Mercy Hospital's Sleep Lab has been awarded a five-year accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The Mercy Sleep Lab is a state-of-the-art facility that provides diagnostic and treatment services for all types of sleep disorders.

The lab is a four-bed unit that features private, hotel-style suites for the comfort of the patient. Staffed by board-certified physicians in sleep medicine and licensed respiratory therapists certified in polysomnography (sleep test) technology, the lab is equipped with the most advanced sleep monitoring system available. To receive accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care, as designated by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

During this voluntary process, the center undergoes a rigorous review of its personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care and quality assurance. Additionally, the sleep center's goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

"Achieving this national accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality of care for our patients with sleep disorders," said Francis Augustine, MD, medical director of the Mercy Sleep Lab. "Besides the many symptoms that sleep disorders can cause such as daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling asleep or excessive snoring, sleep disorders can also lead to higher risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and driving or work-related accidents. The good news is that we can change the lives of people with sleep disorders through proper diagnosis and treatment."

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine accredited a sleep disorders center for the first time in 1977. Today there are nearly 2,500 AASM-accredited sleep centers across the country. The AASM is a professional medical society for clinicians, researchers, and other health care providers in the field of sleep medicine. As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers, it is dedicated to setting standards and promoting excellence in health care, education and research.

The lab is located next door to the hospital in the Marian Office Building, first floor, at 515 Abbott Road in Buffalo.

For more information, call 716-828-2335.