Disturbed sleep is linked to depression symptoms in older women
Both subjective sleep disturbance and objective evidence of sleep fragmentation increased the risk for worsening depressive symptoms in older women, according to a study published in the July issue of SLEEP.
Study links short sleep duration to greater age-related brain atrophy
A community-based, longitudinal study published in the July issue of SLEEP reports that short sleep duration is associated with greater age-related brain atrophy in the subsequent two years.
AASM PAC Chair Dr. David Kuhlmann calls for members to deepen commitment to sleep medicine
Given that this is an election year, connections with legislators is especially important to advance the Seniors Sleep Campaign. Contributions will help millions of seniors receive a sleep apnea screening and obtain treatment for their illness.
AASM releases Scoring Manual update to version 2.1
The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events has been updated. Major updates for this version have been made to Chapter IV, Sleep Staging Rules. The new version has been automatically added to current AASM Scoring Manual subscribers’ accounts, as well as to the AASM Scoring Manual app. Pre-orders for the printed Scoring Manual version 2.1 are being taken now.
AASM introduces Rewards for Referrals program
The AASM’s Rewards for Referrals program introduces new incentives for AASM members to encourage their colleagues to join the leading organization in sleep.
AASM to host course for Physician Assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
The AASM’s Sleep Disorders for the Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner course will use case-based clinical lectures to demonstrate the many aspects of diagnosing, treating and managing sleep disorders.
Mark your calendar for the Sept 10-14 National Sleep Medicine Course
Earn CME and MOC Part II Credits during the AASM National Sleep Medicine Course, a two-and-a-half-day course to be held September 10-14 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL.
Free AASM Inter-scorer Reliability webinar Wednesday, July 9
Join the AASM for a free webinar to review the AASM Inter-scorer Reliability assessment system on Wednesday July 9 at 2 p.m. CDT. The presentation will walk current and potential ISR subscribers through the process of creating and managing admin and user accounts.
Twin study links community socioeconomic deprivation to sleep duration
A new study of adult twins suggests that the level of socioeconomic deprivation in a neighborhood is associated with the sleep duration of residents.
NIDDK announces grant to improve type 1 diabetes management in children
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has issued a funding opportunity announcement to support research for Improving Diabetes Management in Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes.
Study validates two depression screening tools in a sleep disorders clinic
A study in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Beck Depression Inventory – Fast Screen (BDI-FS) are accurate screening instruments with high concurrent validity for identifying the probable presence of major depression in patients at a sleep disorders clinic.
AASM leaders featured in USA Today article about sleep loss
On June 22 AASM President Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler and Past President Dr. Safwan Badr were featured in an online USA Today article about sleep loss that has been shared nearly 7,000 times on Facebook and is being syndicated for print publication in newspapers across the country. The article, If you don't snooze, you lose, includes a supplemental video in which Dr. Badr describes the negative health consequences of sleep loss.
AASM tracking payer communications regarding high risk medications
Recently, our membership has been receiving letters from payers (primarily Medicare Advantage) discouraging the use of medications considered to be “high-risk” for patients over age 65. The AASM is seeking information from members about the impact of the Beers Criteria on sleep medicine. If you have received a letter from your payer recommending that you discontinue prescribing “high-risk” medications for your sleep patients, please share a de-identified copy of the letter
EHR hardship exception application deadline is July 1
Eligible professionals have less than a week left to submit a hardship exception application. Applications for hardship exception are due on July 1 and can be found on the CMS EHR website.
Scoring Manual updates coming July 2014
The version 2.1 update of the AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events will be released next month. The updates will include changes to the Visual Rules found in chapter IV.
Register your PA or NP staff for the Advanced Sleep Disorders Course
The Advanced Sleep Disorders for the Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioners course is a one-and-a-half-day course that will provide an in-depth look at diagnosing, treating and managing sleep disorders through case-based clinical lectures.
Save on registration for the National Sleep Medicine Course
Sign up for the two-and-a-half-day National Sleep Medicine Course on or before August 15 to save on registration.
New openFDA platform provides online access to public drug data
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently launched openFDA, a new initiative designed to make it easier to access large, public health datasets collected by the agency.
Bureau of Labor Statistics releases 2013 American Time Use Survey results
Results of the 2013 American Time Use Survey show that on an average day in 2013, individuals in the U.S. age 15 and over slept 8.7 hours and did work and work-related activities for 3.5 hours. For individuals employed full time, an average weekday.
International study links sleep to cognitive performance in older adults
A cross-sectional study using nationally representative datasets from six middle-income countries (China, Ghana, India, Russian Federation, South Africa, and Mexico) shows that older adults with a self-reported sleep duration of six to nine hours per night exhibited significantly higher cognitive scores than individuals with a short nightly sleep duration of less than six hours or a long sleep duration of more than nine hours per night.
SLEEP 2014 course books and polo shirts now available
The SLEEP 2014 postgraduate course books are now available on the AASM online store. Purchase the course books individually for $50 or save money with the 15 book bundle for only $350! The SLEEP 2014 Commemorative Polo is also available for a limited time. Each polo shirt is purple with the SLEEP 2014 logo embroidered on the front and is available in men’s and women’s sizes. Purchase these items today!
Prepare for the transition to ICD-10 today
Visit the online store and purchase your copy of the ICD-9 to ICD-10 Sleep Medicine Crosswalk to start preparing for the transition to ICD-10 now. This reference tool will help clinicians and their staff assign the most accurate code.
Sleep Disorders for the Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner
The AASM is hosting a course for physician assistants and nurse practitioners to advance their practice in sleep medicine. Sleep Disorders for the PA/APRN will take place October 18-19 at the AASM National Office in Darien, IL.
CME and MOC available at the National Sleep Medicine Course
The AASM’s National Sleep Medicine Course will bring an expert faculty of researchers and clinicians at the forefront of the field to present on current topics in sleep medicine. The two-and-a-half-day course will be held September 12-14, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. This course is intended for physicians seeking to get up to speed with the latest developments in sleep medicine through broad review of sleep disorders.
AASM congratulates 2014 award recipients
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates the 2014 AASM award recipients, who were recognized at SLEEP 2014 in Minneapolis