Today a new era in sleep medicine begins
I am thrilled to let you know that your sleep medicine practice now can be one of the first in the country to sign up for AASM SleepTM, formerly Tell A Sleep Doc, the state-of-the-art telemedicine platform that was designed specifically for the sleep field by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. A new era in sleep medicine has arrived.
New telemedicine system AASM SleepTM expands patient access to sleep care
Today the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) announced that sleep medicine practices nationwide now can sign up for AASM SleepTM, formerly Tell A Sleep Doc, a new state-of-the-art telemedicine platform that will dramatically increase patient access to high quality health care provided by board-certified sleep medicine physicians and accredited sleep centers.
Cyber Week Sale continues through Friday, Dec. 4
Get ready to save with the AASM's 5-day Cyber Week Sale starting Cyber Monday, November 30 through Friday, December 4.
SLEEP 2016 session proposal deadline extended to Sunday, Dec. 6
The APSS Program Committee is soliciting proposals for sessions at SLEEP 2016 including postgraduate courses, clinical workshops, discussion groups and symposia.
CDC reports that U.S. adult obesity rate is up from 2011-2012
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presents an age-adjusted estimate that nearly 38 percent of U.S. adults were obese in 2013 and 2014, an increase from 35 percent in 2011-2012.
ABIM announces increased flexibility to use some CME credit for MOC
In response to the concerns expressed by the AASM and other stakeholders, the ABIM recently announced that it is implementing a more flexible, streamlined process to combine CME activities with MOC requirements.
New document provides brief overview of proposed changes to AASM accreditation standards
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is inviting public comments on proposed changes to the AASM Standards for Accreditation. A new document provides a brief overview with additional clarification regarding the major aspects of accreditation that will be affected should these proposed standards be adopted and implemented.
CDC report examines trends in hypertension control
Among adults with hypertension, 53.0% had controlled hypertension during 2011–2014, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Equipping you to provide high quality patient care
“You’ve changed my life. I feel like a new person.” Those are the words that all sleep clinicians love to hear. All too often, our patients have suffered for years – sometimes decades – with an untreated sleep disorder.
Editorial summarizes updates in AASM Scoring Manual Version 2.2
An editorial by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Scoring Manual Editorial Board summarizes the updates included in the AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events Version 2.2, which was released July 1, 2015.
AASM publishes new drowsy driving position statement
A new American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement published in the November issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine warns that drowsy driving is a serious public health concern requiring greater public awareness and increased efforts to improve preventive education.
Seattle School Board approves later start times for high schools and middle schools
This week the Seattle School Board approved later start times for its high schools and most of its middle schools beginning next school year.
Good Morning America explores impact of 40 hours of sleep deprivation
Earlier this week, Dan Childs, head of the ABC News Medical Unit, documented the impact of going 40 hours without sleep while being monitored at a sleep center as part of Good Morning America’s 40th anniversary.
2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule finalizes payments and policies for sleep medicine
On Oct. 30, 2015 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, which provides updates to payment policies and payment rates for services billed on or after Jan. 1, 2016.
New drowsy driving position statement calls for greater public awareness, education
A new position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warns that drowsy driving is a serious public health concern requiring greater public awareness and increased efforts to improve preventive education.
A year away from the 2016 Election: AASM PAC needs your support
To fight for the best possible sleep care, I ask that every member take the time to donate $100 to the AASM PAC.
New product catalog offers savings for members
Navigate the future of sleep medicine with the exclusive Q4 2015 Quarterly Product Catalog offering the latest resources from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
AASM president discusses dreams and nightmares in PBS Twitter chat
On Friday, Nov. 6, American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Nathaniel Watson discussed the neuroscience of dreams, nightmares and REM sleep during a Twitter chat hosted by PBS NewsHour.
CDC reports that U.S. uninsured rate is down to 9 percent
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 9.2 percent of individuals were uninsured at the time of interview from January through March 2015, a decrease of 2.3 percentage points from the 2014 uninsured rate of 11.5 percent.
Your audience awaits at SLEEP 2016: Submit an abstract or session proposal
Spotlight your research findings and practice methods at SLEEP 2016, June 11-15 in Denver. The session proposal and abstract submission site is now open!
AASM leaders participate in NHTSA forum on drowsy driving
American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Nathaniel Watson participated on multiple panels of sleep and transportation safety experts during the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) drowsy driving Forum, “Asleep at the Wheel, A Nation of Drowsy Drivers,” held Nov. 4 – 5, 2015.
Study finds an analgesia phenomenon associated with sleepwalking
A study in the November issue of the journal SLEEP presents a clinical enigma: Although sleepwalkers have an increased risk for headaches and migraines while awake, during sleepwalking episodes they are unlikely to feel pain even while suffering an injury.
Study shows that fragmented sleep impacts mood more than sleep restriction
A study in the November issue of the journal SLEEP is the first human experimental study to demonstrate that, despite comparable reductions in total sleep time, partial sleep loss from sleep continuity disruption is more detrimental to positive mood than partial sleep loss from delaying bedtime.
Two sleep-related investigations highlighted in the 2016 OIG Work Plan
On Monday, Nov. 2, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) published the 2016 edition of its annual Work Plan, which includes two investigations related to sleep medicine.
CMS posts 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule
On Friday Oct. 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted the 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, which outlines 2016 payment and policies for Medicare physicians.