Bothwell Sleep Center Reaccredited

Bothwell Regional Health Center is pleased to announce that the Bothwell Sleep Center has been reaccredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) for another five years beginning Feb. 12, 2020. The Sleep Center was initially accredited by the AASM in 2010 and again in 2015.

The AASM standards for accreditation are the gold standard by which the medical community and the public evaluate sleep medicine facilities. Achieving AASM accreditation demonstrates a sleep medicine provider’s commitment to high quality, patient-centered care through adherence to these standards.

“Reaccreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a mark of excellence for our Sleep Center,” said Lori Wightman, Bothwell CEO. “I am proud of the center’s medical team and their care for patients with sleep disorders.”

The Sleep Center had to meet several standards to achieve reaccreditation including personnel; patient policies; facilities and equipment; policies and procedures; data acquisition; scoring and reporting; patient evaluation and care; patient records; emergency procedures; quality; safety; and patients’ rights.

Dr. David Kuhlmann, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, serves as the center’s medical director. He said the accreditation is a confirmation of the center’s excellence.

“We have a tremendous team,” Kuhlmann said. “Our technicians are good at what they do, and they are committed to knowing our patients and helping them with their sleep health issues.”

For patients, the accreditation provides assurance they are receiving the highest level of care. Also, insurance companies often require patients use an accredited sleep center.

The center also must treat all sleep disorders and have at least one sleep technologist certified by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT). The Bothwell Sleep Center has four BRPT certified sleep technologists.

Commons sleep disorders include insomnia, which is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; sleep apnea or abnormal breathing patterns while sleeping; restless leg syndrome; narcolepsy, a condition characterized by extreme sleepiness during the day and falling asleep suddenly during the day; sleep walking; and teeth grinding.

“The Bothwell Sleep Center first opened in 1997,” said Keith Morrow, Bothwell Clinic Operations vice president. “Its long-standing presence in the community, along with Dr. Kuhlmann’s leadership, has meant thousands of community members have been helped with their sleep disorders.”

The Bothwell Sleep Center is located at 600 E. 12th St. in Sedalia. For more information, call (660) 827-9573 or visit www.brhc.org/specialty_clinics/sleep_center.aspx.