Ideally, a sleep disorder program only tests patients who are at risk. Unnecessary testing can increase wait times while inconveniencing patients who don’t need the test. At Forward Healthcare, we use a variety of screening tactics to ensure that patients aren’t tested unnecessarily.

STOP-BANG

The STOP-BANG questionnaire is an important tool for sleep apnea diagnosis, looking at the most prominent risk factors to determine whether a patient should get treated. The acronym stands for the risk factors:

• Snoring
• Tiredness
• Observed apnea
• blood Pressure
• Body mass index
• Age
• Neck circumference
• Gender

Patients get one point for each of the eight factors that make them likely to have sleep apnea. Scores in the 3-4 range may require further testing, while 5+ scores indicate a high-risk patient.

Other Screening Methods

• Epworth – The Epworth scale allows us to determine how sleepy a patient is, which in turn indicates whether they may be afflicted with a disorder.
• Cardiology screening – Patients with cardiovascular issues are also more likely to have sleep apnea.
• Online questionnaires – These questionnaires can be completed by patients in the comfort of their own home, which increases completion rates.
• App-based solutions – While apps are no replacement for other forms of testing, they can serve as an early warning indicator.

Patient Screening Optimization – Forward Healthcare

At Forward Healthcare, we’re committed to helping healthcare providers build or improve their sleep disorder solutions. Our years of experience enable us to establish efficient, effective programs that improve patient outcomes.

Whether you have any questions you’d like to ask about sleep disorder programs or you’re ready for us to help you with your, please contact us today.