Sleep Disorders Center
Faculty and Staff
Three board-certified sleep specialist physicians and registered polysomnographic and electroencephalographic technologists staff the Sleep Disorders Center at Georgetown University Hospital.
The large multi-disciplinary team includes members from Pulmonary and Critical Care, Neurology, Otolaryngology, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.
Facility
The Sleep Disorders Center at Georgetown University is a six-bed center that is operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Sleep Disorders Center’s rooms are designed to simulate a “home-like” environment. Each private room has a comfortable full-sized bed with a television and an adjacent bathroom and shower.
State-of-the-art digital and analog equipment is used to accurately acquire sleep data.
How to Schedule a Sleep Study
All patients seen in the Sleep Disorders Center at Georgetown University Hospital are referred to the Sleep Disorders Center either by a specialist or by one of the center’s physicians.
After an initial interview and evaluation, the Sleep Specialist at Georgetown’s Sleep Disorders Center may schedule the patient for polysomnography or sleep study, depending on the patients symptoms, medical and sleep history.
On the night of the study, a sleep technologist will greet the patient and thoroughly explain the procedure. A video on the procedure and various treatment options available is also shown for those patients suspected to have sleep apnea.
Once the patient has changed into bedclothes, small sensors are placed on various parts of the body to monitor brain wave activity, eye and muscle movements. Respiratory and heart rates are also monitored. These sensors are painless and do not interfere with the ability to sleep.
As the sleep data is collected, patients are continuously monitored by a sleep technologist. The data collected from the study will help the sleep physician determine the best treatment for the sleep disorder. Once properly diagnosed, most sleep disorders can be effectively treated.
NCPAP or Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is a treatment method used to treat sleep apnea. It is a non-surgical way to open the airway. Pressurized air delivered through a nasal mask prevents the airway from closing during sleep so that air can flow freely to and from the lungs.
Bi-Level Positive Pressure provides two different pressure levels of air for inspiration and expiration. This type of treatment may be more comfortable for patients who have difficulty tolerating nasal CPAP.
Surgery is also a treatment option used to correct nose or throat obstruction contributing to sleep apnea.
For insomnia and narcolepsy, medication or behavioral management therapy may be prescribed.
Most insurance companies pay for some or all of the costs related to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.
Call to schedule an appointment with one of our sleep specialists (doctor’s order required): Dr. Anne E. O’Donnell or Dr. Dina B. KiaNoury.
- Sleep Disorders Center (202) 444-8830
- Sleep Laboratory (202) 444-3610
- Do you have a sleep disorder? Take this quiz.