AASM Congratulates Recipients of 2011 AASM Awards
Each year the AASM Awards recognize leaders in sleep medicine who have made significant contributions to both the AASM and the sleep field. The 2011 AASM Awards Ceremony will take place Monday, June 13, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn., during the plenary session of SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.
Adverse changes in sleep duration associated with lower cognitive scores in middle-aged adults
A study in the May 1 issue of the journal SLEEP describes how changes in sleep that occur over a five-year period in late middle age affect cognitive function in later life. The findings suggest that women and men who begin sleeping more or less than 6 to 8 hours per night are subject to an accelerated cognitive decline that is equivalent to four to seven years of aging.
Study is the first to link sleep duration to infant growth spurts
A study in the May 1 issue of the journal SLEEP is the first to show that increased bursts of sleep among infants are significantly associated with growth spurts in body length.
Final Free Learning Module: “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Fatigue/Sleepiness”
Throughout the month of April 2011, members had the opportunity to experience the new AASM Online Learning Center by viewing a different educational presentation for free each week. The final online learning module included in this offer “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Fatigue/Sleepiness: Measures That a Practicing Sleep Physician Can Use” was posted Monday, April 25.
Philips Consumer Lifestyle Offers Light Therapy Research Grant
Philips Consumer Lifestyle is offering a research grant, or grants, of up to $100,000 to further the understanding of the effects of light on well-being. Particular attention will be directed toward areas related to sleep, circadian regulation, alertness, learning and cognition. All applications must be received by June 13, 2011. Find a link to the complete details within the article.
Attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program Begins
Earlier this week, attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program began. This means that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) can attest through the CMS web-based attestation system and be on the way to receiving Medicare EHR incentive payments.
Final Days of Sale: 25% Discount on Several Top Selling Products for Sleep Technologists
Equip sleep technologists and technicians at your facility with the resources needed for them to excel by purchasing discounted educational material from the AASM during the month of April. During this sale, several of the AASM’s most popular products for sleep technologists will be discounted by 25 percent.
Social Media: Stay Connected with the AASM
Stay connected with the AASM online and participate in ongoing discussions about sleep and sleep disorders by following the AASM on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the Sleep Education Blog. AASM members also can view and post comments in the Member’s Discussion Forum when you log in on the AASM website at www.aasmnet.org.
In the News: School Start Times, Individual Sleep Needs, Air-Traffic Controllers, & EPAP
Sleep has been a hot topic in the media with coverage a Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine study which found that automobile crash rates may be higher for teens who start school earlier. New York Times Magazine examined the topic of individual sleep needs, pointing out that the body does not adapt to less sleep. Fatigued air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job also received extensive coverage. And the Wall Street Journal looked at the efficacy of an expiratory airway pressure device.
Final Days to Take Advantage of Free Preview of AASM Online Learning Modules
Online learning modules provide sleep professionals with the opportunity to view a multimedia presentation online and earn CME credit in an on-demand format. Topics are presented by leaders in the field and have been developed specifically for online viewing as well as captured at previous live AASM Sleep Education courses. During the month of April 2011, the AASM is posting a new presentation each week to give members the opportunity to experience this new educational format for free.
SLEEP 2011 Advanced Registration Ends Wednesday, April 27
Register for SLEEP 2011 on or before Wednesday, April 27 to save up to 25 percent on registration fees. Many ticketed sessions at the meeting sell out quickly, and it is recommended that you register early to ensure you can attend all of your desired sessions.
Invite Your U.S. Representative to AASM Congressional Forum on Sleep Medicine
The AASM is conducting a Congressional Forum on Sleep Medicine in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 4, from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. to educate lawmakers and their staff in the U.S. House of Representatives on the importance of effective sleep and the essential role of the sleep medicine and sleep research communities. To ensure that the forum is well attended, the AASM is asking members to contact the D.C. office of your elected official in the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss this forum and urge his or her attendance. The AASM has provided a script (available within the article) that you can use when making phone calls and sending follow-up emails.
Stream Learning Module “Incorporating DME Into Your Practice” Free in the AASM Online Learning Center
Find out how to operate and maintain a Durable Medical Equipment resource with the newest FREE online learning module available in the AASM Online Learning Center. Visit the AASM Online Learning Center homepage between Monday, April 18 and Sunday, April 24 to view “Incorporating DME Into Your Practice” for FREE.
Next Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board Meeting is April 29
The next in-person, public meeting of the Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board (SDRAB), which is an advisory committee of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), will be held Friday, April 29, 2011, on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus in Bethesda, Md., Building 31, C wing, Room 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FDA Approves Horizant to Treat Restless Legs Syndrome
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of Horizant Extended Release Tablets, a once-daily treatment for moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS). Horizant is the third drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe RLS, joining Requip and Mirapex.
NHLBI Announces Short-Term Training Grant Involving Pediatric Sleep Medicine
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute released a funding opportunity announcement for a Short-Term Institutional Training Grant in Pediatric Respiratory, Sleep, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine. The program will provide stipends for 2 to 3 months to 5 to 7 trainees per program to cover living expenses during the research training experience.
AASM Acknowledges April Contributions to the ISR Testing Program
For the April ISR Testing Program, the AASM gratefully acknowledges Nihon Kohden America for contributing software, Sleep HealthCenters for providing sleep records, and Dr. Kannan Ramar for serving as the second gold standard. Their participation in the AASM’s effort to provide a national standard for sleep scoring is greatly appreciated.
Earn CME Credit Online: April Issue of JCSM
The April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is now available online, and AASM members have access to the full text of each article when you log in on the website. You also can earn continuing medical education (CME) credits online by reading designated articles and taking the online CME exams within one year of the date of publication.
AASM Membership Sections Chair Election Results
The AASM thanks all members who voted in the Membership Sections Chair Election and congratulates members who were elected as 2011-2012 section chairs. View the full article to see the results.
Deadlines and Updates for SLEEP 2011
SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS), will be held June 11–15, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn. Click ahead to view the deadlines and advisories for registration, sessions, hotel reservations and more.
American Board of Anesthesiology Receives ABMS Approval to Offer Sleep Medicine Exam
The 2011 ABMS sleep medicine certification exam will be the final opportunity for physicians to apply under the Practice Pathway. After this exam, all first-time applicants must have completed a formal sleep medicine fellowship program. For a list of the ABMS member boards that will offer the exam read more.
SLEEP 2011 Abstract Supplement Available as an Online Resource
The SLEEP 2011 abstract supplement contains all abstracts to be presented at the meeting in June, and is only available online on the SLEEP 2011 website and the journal SLEEP website. More than 1,000 abstracts are scheduled to be presented this year in Minneapolis as scientific oral presentations and poster presentations.
CMS Implementation of Provider Enrollment Provisions
The Feb. 2, 2011, edition of the Federal Register outlined a number of new requirements for CMS providers and suppliers. The final rule, which took effect March 25, 2011 included new requirements for the screening process, application fees and temporary moratoria.
Crash rates may be higher for teen drivers who start school earlier
Early school start times may promote sleep loss and daytime sleepiness, which can reduce the alertness of teen drivers. Chronic sleep restriction is a common problem among teens. During adolescence, a biological change shifts the typical onset of sleepiness later at night. This delay can make it a challenge for teens to get enough sleep when they have to wake up early for school.
Worldsleep 2011 to go Ahead as Planned in Kyoto, Japan
World Sleep 2011 will be held October 16-20, 2011, in Kyoto, Japan. In a special message last week, Ron Grunstein, MD, PhD, President of the World Sleep Federation, reassured the sleep medicine community about the perceived risks associated with travel to Japan.