The test that records your sleep data is called polysomnography. It will record a wide array of body functions: heart rate and rhythm, breathing, snoring, airflow, the levels of oxygen in your blood, brain activity, and sleep position. You are not attached to any machine beside your bed, and so doing toilet trips won’t be a problem. If you know you are a restless sleeper, all you need to do is make sure that the sensors are firmly attached.
Below is an example of the sleep study summary graph.
1. Download the Referral Form. Bring this to your General Practitioner. Your GP will fill in the Referral Form.
2. Request your GP Medical Centre to fax it to us on 07 3381 9025 or email to info@sleepstudybrisbane.com.au
3. We will call you to book your Home Sleep Study.
Preparing For Your Home Sleep Study
Be prepared for your home sleep study. Here’s what to expect.
Prepare for your sleep study by not planning anything stressful for the evening so you can give your full attention to the sleep study procedures. During the appointment, the Sleep Technician will measure your breathing function and fill in some paperwork. Then he will attach a sleep monitoring device to your upper body. This device is called a portable Polysomnograhy (PSG) device. The whole appointment will take approximately one hour.
We require that you will have showered before your appointment and dressed ready for bed. Wear decent, comfortable sleeping clothes. Eating, drinking, brushing teeth and toilet activities won’t be any problem. But you won’t be able to wash your face or take a shower until your remove the PSG the next morning.
A home sleep test is called polysomnography and has many wires and electrodes that will measure data to diagnose sleep apnea. You may wish to bring a robe to cover up on your return home.
We recommend you bring a robe or an oversized shirt to wear over the equipment when you drive home. Be prepared to drive home straight after instead of dropping by the convenience store to buy bread and milk. You may not wish to be seen doing some late night shopping with electrodes stuck to your head.
When you get home, do your usual bedtime routines. If you take medications, take them as usual. If you normally take a glass of wine before bed, then do so. In short, go through your usual process of getting to sleep. But go to bed early to enable the PSG to get as much sleep data as possible.
The next morning, carefully remove the electrodes, pack the PSG and all the wires back into its bag, and return the bag to the clinic. We will download your data and a Sleep and Respiratory Specialist will analyze your sleep record. He will then write out a report and send it back to your GP. We will contact you to advise that you need to book another appointment with your GP to discuss the Sleep Specialist’s recommendations and your options.
One of the most significant advantages of our home sleep study services is that, thanks to Medicare,they are bulk-billed provided you meet certain criteria. If you are eligible, this means there are no out-of-pocket costs for you. With the help of Medicare’s bulk billing system, we ensure that our patients receive high-quality diagnostic services without the added financial burden.
If you’re struggling with sleep issues and suspect you might have sleep apnea, getting a comprehensive sleep study is essential. At Nexus Healthcare Home Sleep Study Services, we offer an innovative solution that combines convenience, comfort, and affordability with our bulk-billed home sleep study services. Here’s everything you need to know about how we can help you achieve a better night’s sleep without breaking the bank.
Eligibility for Bulk-Billed Home Sleep Study
To qualify for our bulk-billed home sleep study, you need to meet two essential requirements:
1. Referral from a General Practitioner or Specialist: First, you will need a referral from your GP or a specialist. This step is crucial as it ensures that the sleep study is medically necessary and covered by Medicare. You can download the Referral Form here and bring it to your doctor.
2. Meeting Screening Requirements: You must meet the screening criteria of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the OSA 50 Questionnaire. The ESS measures your daytime sleepiness, while the OSA 50 assesses your risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Specifically, you need to score at least 8 on the ESS and at least 5 on the OSA 50 to qualify for the bulk-billed study. See these questionnaires in our referral form.
Convenient Study Setup at Our Clinics
We offer a convenient setup process for your sleep study in our after-hours clinic in Springfield Lakes or at a selected clinic close to you. During this appointment, our experienced sleep technicians will attach the sleep apnea testing device to you, ensuring it is correctly set up to capture accurate data throughout the night.
At-Home Setup Option
For those who prefer the comfort of their own home, we also provide an in-home setup service. Our sleep technician can come to your home to set up the sleep study equipment, ensuring you receive the same high-quality diagnostic service without leaving your house. Please note that a call-out fee will apply for this service, which varies based on the travel time required for the technician to reach your home.
How to Get Started
To begin your journey towards better sleep with our bulk-billed home sleep study services, follow these simple steps:
1. Schedule an Appointment with Your Doctor: Book an appointment with your GP or specialist to discuss your sleep concerns.
3. Ask the GP to fill out the referral form. Be mindful of the eligibility requirements.
4. Send the Referral Form or have your doctor fax or email the completed referral form to us. Contact details are contained in the referral form. If you don’t meet Medicare’s criteria for a bulk-billed sleep study, send the referral anyway. you can still have a sleep study as a paying patient. Also if you have private health insurance, check whether a home sleep study is covered.
5. Once we receive your referral, our team will contact you to schedule your sleep study setup appointment at a clinic or arrange for an in-home setup if preferred.
Contact Us
For more information about our bulk-billed home sleep study services or to get started, contact us directly at:
Email: info@sleepstudybrisbane.com.au
At Nexus Healthcare Home Sleep Study Services, we are dedicated to helping you achieve better sleep and improve your overall health. With our convenient and affordable solutions, a restful night’s sleep is just a step away.
For our Brisbane home sleep study appointments, we use two types of equipment: the Embletta MPR and the Alice PDX.
Both are devices for portable diagnosis of sleep breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea used by sleep labs, office-based doctors and home care providers. They provide for a 12 -16 lead channel study and are easy for the sleep technician to set up for the patient’s use in the comfort and privacy of their home.
Embletta MR
Alice PDx
The Alice PDX and the Embletta MR satisfy international portable testing requirements (for eg. A.A.S.M.levels II, III and IV) and provides capabilities of basic screening to advanced diagnostic evaluation.
Some of the features that make them ideal for medical professionals and patients include portability, ease of use, and accurate results. They are compact machines that can be easily transported from one location to another. Weighing not more than 1.6 kg make them ideal for use in both clinic and field settings.
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that occurs when a person stops breathing during sleep. Unfortunately, it is often undiagnosed until a bed partner or a family member tells you that you may have it. If no one is around to tell you, there are some early warning signs that tell you may be at risk for sleep apnea, including snoring, fatigue during the day, and waking up frequently during the night.
Here are some reasons why sleep apnea needs to be tested for and treated.
Health Problems
Cardiovascular Disease
A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia shows that sleep apnea can cause heart diseases like hypertension, strokes, cardiac arrhythmias, ischaemic heart disease, and heart failure. This is because when your breathing regularly stops throughout the night, you are not getting the oxygen that your body needs. When you do not get enough oxygen, your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body.
Diabetes
A study published by the Sleep Foundation lists several links between sleep apnea and insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes. There are numerous pathways as to how sleep apnea can cause insulin resistance. One, sleep apnea leads to chronic inflammation. Two, sleep apnea leads to changes in hormones that regulate blood sugar. The report by the Sleep foundation mentions several serious pathways that lead to insulin resistance clearly signifying that sleep apnea can increase the risk for diabetes.
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
New research by Australian and Icelandic researchers, led by RMIT University and published in the journal Sleep has confirmed long-suspected links between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease. The research found that people with sleep apnea are more likely to have signs of brain damage on MRI scans, including reduced brain volume and white matter abnormalities. They also found identical signs of brain damage in both conditions. Studies from other institutions also found that people with sleep apnea were more likely to perform poorly on cognitive tests, and that these cognitive deficits were similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
These findings suggest that sleep apnea may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, or that the two conditions share common underlying mechanisms.
Driving Drowsy and Road Accidents
Because sleep apnea causes sleep deprivation, it can lead to daytime sleepiness, difficulty to concentrate and focus on tasks, and unable to stay alert. It is also one of the leading causes of driving drowsy road accidents which is a major problem on our roads. Sleep apnea is a major contributing factor to this, which makes it crucial to get tested and treated so you that you can stay safe while driving.
WARNING: If you are sleep deprived, get enough sleep before driving. In some countries and states, it is considered an offense to drive when fatigued. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about testing and treatment options.
Depression
Studies have shown that people with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from depression than those who do not have the disorder. One theory is that sleep apnea disrupts the body’s natural sleep cycle. This disruption can lead to changes in the levels of certain hormones, including serotonin, which plays a role in mood regulation. In addition, sleep apnea can cause chronic sleepiness, which can further contribute to feelings of chronic fatigue and irritability.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, it is important to talk to your doctor and get a sleep test. A home sleep test is easy and convenient, and you can sleep in the comfort of your own bed. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about having a home sleep test and find the right treatment for you.
If you’re in Brisbane and hesitate about having a sleep apnea test in a sleep lab or hospital, then why not consider an in-home sleep study? In all our home sleep study Brisbane clinics, we use the latest portable 16-lead channel diagnostic technology which meets all the standards required for a home sleep study covered by Medicare. A small out-of-pocket fee may apply.
Home Sleep Study Brisbane Clinics
Ipswich, Brisbane West and South, Logan.
Nexus Healthcare
(07) 3708 3233
Northside and Eastside, Capalaba, Cleveland, Redland Bay.
Capalaba Medical Centre
(07) 3245 9600
Portable Home Sleep Study Brisbane Service
Living with untreated sleep apnea can be disruptive enough – you shouldn’t have to worry about disrupting your life even more to get the testing and treatment you need.
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that occurs when your breathing repeatedly starts and stops during sleep. According to the Australian Sleep Health Foundation, an estimated 2.5 million Australians suffer from sleep apnea, and a further unknown number that go undiagnosed.
There are two types of sleep studies — in-lab and at-home.
In-lab or in-hospital sleep studies are conducted in a sleep center or hospital with trained medical staff on hand to monitor patients throughout the night.
A portable, home sleep study is sufficient to diagnose sleep apnea. If a patient meets certain requirements, the study is covered by Medicare.
At Sleep Study Brisbane, a portable sleep study uses state-of-the-art equipment to monitor sleep patterns and breathing. The data from your study will be sent wirelessly to one of our board-certified Respiratory and Sleep Specialists.
With an at-home sleep study Brisbane, there are two ways of getting one done:
In the north and east Brisbane, please contact Capalaba Medical Centre to make an appointment.
Portable sleep studies have many benefits, including convenience, lower cost, and minimal disruption to your daily routine.
It can be a more convenient option for patients who prefer not to be tested overnight in a hospital or sleep lab environment.
You can stick to your normal routine and just go about your nightly activities as usual. There is no need to travel to a sleep center or spend the night away from home.
At-home sleep studies Brisbane are covered by Medicare which means you only have a small out-of-pocket fee to pay your sleep technician or the medical centre. In addition, you won’t have to pay for a hotel room or transportation to and from the sleep center.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about whether a portable sleep study is right for you. A portable sleep study is a convenient, less expensive option that can help you get the treatment you need with minimal disruption to your life.
For more information, please contact us:
Call (07) 3708 3233 Text 0434 719948 Email: info@sleepstudybrisbane.com.au
Bulk-Billed Sleep Study: No Out-of-Pocket Costs