Another reason Sleep HealthCenters has been extremely successful in the Boston area is that its services have been well received by managed care companies, which are the predominant payors for Sleep HealthCenters services. Managed care companies in our area are very educated about the field of sleep medicine, Eckhardt says. Payors especially appreciate the savings they receive by using an integrated delivery system like that at Sleep HealthCenters as opposed to a fragmented system involving many different providers.
With one third of the US population experiencing sleep-related problems, it is likely that Sleep HealthCenters will continue to grow significantly in the years ahead. Currently, the company is considering opening additional centers in the Boston area and has even contemplated entering other geographic markets. We are always looking for new sites in order to meet patient demand, Eckhardt says. We feel we have an excellent model that can work in other areas with the right hospitals and physicians.
Lawrence Epstein, MD, regional medical director for Sleep HealthCenters, concurs that the companys ability to offer a comprehensive disease management system will enable it to continue to expand. Our patients see specially trained physicians, sleep medicine specialists, pulmonologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists; undergo diagnostic testing in a state-of-the-art laboratory; and are educated about and treated for their sleep disorders under the supervision of sleep specialists, CPAP therapists, and dentists, Epstein explains. No other place can offer this range of services.
Carol Daus is a contributing writer for Sleep Review.