Hotel Sleep Study--Anyone?

SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:40 pm

I did fill out a form at the end of my night's stay asking about my experience. I told them exactly what I thought of the place (although the tech was very nice and very good with his explanations of everything) I didn't think to complain to the insurance company too! Darn! And I've switched jobs and therefore insurance companies now.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:32 pm

Awww, shucks, SleepingBeauty. You just gotta grow up to be a crochety ole lady like me!!!

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:51 am

BrianRT wrote:So I gather it's a pretty respected concept among the general public? We were thinking it was sort of 'fly by night' at work. I admit it's certainly better than the sterile environment of some labs

My first thought was that checking into almost any luxurious hotel for a sleep study sounds more psychologically calming than checking into a typical clinical institution. And that sole psychological factor alone just may be more conducive to a successful sleep study for at least some of us. I would also think this same issue of anxiety reduction/avoidance factors in favorably in the case of home-based sleep studies.

My second thought or concern regarding hotel-based sleep studies was that they might not be as diagnostically/technologically comprehensive as a typical in-lab PSG. I also wondered if this venue of sleep study might even prove to be institutionally advantageous toward alleviating various PSG bed-shortage scenarios.

Back to my own preferences, however... If a hotel-based sleep study were offered by reputable clinicians, and with technologically adequate diagnostics, then I'd probably prefer a nice hotel setting versus any given clinical setting. However, of all three setting options mentioned, I would actually prefer a home-based study. While diagnostic data acquisition factors are undeniably important, I happen to think the next wave of sleep diagnostic technology would do well to much better consider/accommodate human factors (regarding physical and psychological comfort). I think sleep-study human factors are monumentally important. Rhetorically: How can you clinically measure sleep in a patient who is too "PSG-uncomfortable" to sleep? And how can you clinically measure sleep in a patient who is psychologically opposed to the idea of showing up for that (technologically and institutionally) intimidating sleep study in the first place? I have repeatedly thought that today's typical PSG clinical setting is akin to throwing a party that very few guests psychologically want to show up for (despite knowing they should).

Perhaps the next big challenge to conquer in sleep diagnostics really should be in the area of human factors. Who knows? Perhaps that pleasant hotel environment or home setting are human-factors steps in the right direction. Put me down as being homespun and at the same time as being adverse to clinical settings when it comes to sleep. But I am quite amenable to the idea of having my sleep study in a luxurious hotel room! Please make sure that room has a hot tub and a fully stocked bar. Gotta prep for my sleep study, even though I know I shouldn't. Just kidding about that last part.

Thanks for asking, Brian!

john44077 · Post by **john44077** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:13 pm

Got my EOB today for my 3/7/06 sleep study at a hotal based center. $1200 my insurance paid. $0 cost to me. I love that part.

BrianRT · Post by **BrianRT** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:08 pm

Very concise answer, SWS. Thank you. I agree that controlling for all of the extraneous factors would net a more favorable data collection session. I couldn't imagine going to a lab like SleepingBeauty had described. That type of setting could probably induce some abnormal sleep, IMHO.

Now......a sleep lab combined with a bed and breakfast, THERE'S an idea whose time is come

Alisha · Post by **Alisha** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:46 pm

Four times I've used the same sleep clinic. It's in a building connected to the hospital with doctors' offices, labs, DME, and the sleep clinic. The sleep clinic is on the 4th floor.

The sleep clinic has fully furnished bedrooms (bed, dresser, vanity with mirror, 2 chairs, and a large TV). It has private bathrooms with shower, sink, medicine cabinet, mirror, and toilet with each bedroom. Sounds good until I add that both the bedroom and bathroom were so small that clumsy me bumped into a few things trying to get around. There was no room to maneuver between the furniture. Both rooms were clean, just way too small to be comfortable. They offered coffee and sweet rolls the next morn. The sleep doc was always there the next morn to discuss the findings and give me a prescription.

My real complaint though was two patients assigned to each lab tech. They got me hooked up and ready for bed, but I had to stay up at least a half an hour longer while they hooked up the other patient, even though I was very sleepy by then. By the time the tech finally came back I was then wide awake and couldn't go to sleep. I know they couldn't let me go to sleep until the tech could monitor my sleep, which is the reason I believe they should have one patient for each tech, especially since the charges are so high. I wrote this on the form I filled out the next morning, on one or maybe two of my visits.

Hearing of the sleep labs some of you were subjected to makes me appreciate the clean rooms and friendly atmosphere I experienced. Sorry for what some of you had to endure.

Regards,

Alisha