New Sleep Wellness Center Opens at ChristianaCare

More than 70 million Americans have sleep-related problems. To address this growing need, ChristianaCare has opened a new comprehensive Sleep Wellness Center in the Medical Arts Pavilion 2 on the Newark campus.

The ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center, accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, is an outpatient program that provides expert diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.

The nearly 5,000 square foot, seven-bed facility builds on the success of ChristianaCare’s previous sleep diagnostic center, now incorporating clinical care and diagnostic testing at the same site.

The center is staffed by board-certified sleep medicine specialists who provide in-lab and at-home sleep testing, as well as a behavioral health specialist who offers cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. The center offers onsite and virtual appointments.

“At the ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center, we offer the full range of sleep care services in one place, with the expertise to help people with all kinds of sleep disorders,” said Shilpa Kauta, M.D., medical director of the ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center.

“Sleep disorders affect members of every race, socioeconomic class and age group, but despite the high prevalence of sleep disorders, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated,” she said.

“It’s important for people to know that if they have problems related to sleeping, they should talk to their doctor about it, or call us at the Sleep Wellness Center. Sleep disorders can affect overall health — and they are often very treatable.”

The Sleep Wellness Center provides expert, multidisciplinary diagnosis and care for every kind of sleep problem, including:

• Obstructive sleep apnea.
• Restless legs syndrome.
• Narcolepsy.
• Parasomnias, such as sleepwalking.

As part of the ChristianaCare team, the expert staff at the Sleep Wellness Center coordinates with disease-based programs at ChristianaCare to integrate sleep services into cardiac care, weight loss surgery and renal transplant care. They also partner with surgeons to manage hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy, a major advancement in obstructive sleep apnea treatment.

Patients at the Sleep Wellness Center undergo a personal sleep history, medical background and physical examination. If appropriate, a polysomnography (sleep study) may be ordered to monitor and record brain waves, heart rate, blood oxygen level, breathing and eye movements.

According to the National Institutes of Health, of the 70 million Americans suffering from sleep-related problems, more than 50% are likely to have a chronic disorder, such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and narcolepsy. People who suffer from sleep disorders are also more likely to have chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, depression, obesity and even cancer.

The impact on American life and economy is enormous as sleep deprivation and untreated sleep disorders are estimated to cost over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, property and environmental damage.

“With information collected through testing, our sleep experts can determine the source of a sleep problem and begin a treatment plan to help patients improve their quality of life,” Kauta said.