EMORY JOHNS CREEK HOSPITAL OPENS CENTER FOR SLEEP MEDICINE

October 22, 2008 – Emory Johns Creek Hospital expanded its scope of services last week by opening the hospital’s Center for Sleep Medicine.  Under the direction of Thomas DeMarini, MD, the EJCH Center for Sleep Medicine was designed to meet the demands of the community for hospital based sleep medicine.  “Sleep problems are becoming more prevalent and people are more aware than ever that there are remedies,” said DeMarini. 

Sleep apnea has become of one of the most common health complaints, affecting more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.  Men over the age of 40 who are overweight are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, but the condition can strike anyone at any age, even children. Patients at high risk of a sleep disorder include those with heart problems, stroke, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and hypertension, high blood pressure and obesity.   Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotence and headaches. 

The physicians participating in the Center for Sleep Medicine include doctors board certified in sleep, pulmonology, neurology and otolarnology. “By providing coverage from a variety of specialists with sleep medicine privileges, we can better identify and treat the multitude of sleep disorders that affects patients,” said John Quinlivan, CEO of the hospital.  The EJCH Center for Sleep Medicine has rooms specially designed for bariatric patients.  “The Center for Sleep Medicine adds an important element to our bariatrics program, The Atlanta Bariatric Center,” said Quinlivan.  “

The Emory Johns Creek Hospital Center for Sleep Medicine features a luxurious, hotel-like atmosphere.  “We want our patients to be as comfortable as possible so they are more likely to sleep as they would at home,” said DeMarini.  “We will get better results when our patients are more relaxed, and we felt it was important to create a home like environment, rather than a hospital setting.”