Sleep Wake Services

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Our program has been developed in conjunction with Roper St. Francis Healthcare, who operates a comprehensive, nationally accredited sleep center at Roper Hospital in Charleston. Our pleasant and welcoming staff will make your sleep study as relaxing as possible. The rooms are comfortably decorated with home-like décor and have queen-sized Sleep Number beds by Select Comfort.

Over 40 million people a year suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia, persistent sleepiness, and chronic fatigue; Symptoms may include blocked airways, grinding teeth, muscular pain, excessive daytime sleepiness, and periodic limb movement during sleep. Left untreated, sleep disorders increase the risk for serious medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia, heart attack, and stroke.

Sleep studies monitor all stages of sleep including eye movement, heart rate, snoring, and sudden leg or body movements; the tests are conducted by Respiratory Therapists with special training in sleep studies. Adults and children over the age of 5 are eligible for testing. Once the study is complete, the tests are interpreted by board certified physicians who specialize in sleep medicine. The results are provided to each patient and the referring physician.


William T. Dawson Jr., MD serves as medical director for the sleep center program at HRMC. He is in private practice with Charleston Pulmonary Associates, PA, and Carolina Sleep Specialists, a physician group consisting of five board certified pulmonologists and sleep specialists, who are responsible for interpreting the tests conducted. Dr. Dawson is also board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care. 

COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS

Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and frequently occurring sleeping disorder. More commonly found in men than in women, sleep apnea is a term for recurrent and prolonged episodes when breathing stops during sleep, resulting in disturbed sleep. If this sleeping disorder is left untreated, sleep apnea puts a person at an increased risk for serious medical conditions such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia, heart attack and stroke.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is an inherited disease associated with periods of uncontrollable sleepiness during waking hours, often beginning in young adulthood. Other symptoms may include vivid nightmares, sudden loss of muscle tone and momentary paralysis upon awakening.

Periodic Leg Movements
Sudden jerking of the legs during sleep is commonly known as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), and can cause arousals throughout the night. These frequent arousals can result in a complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness or insomnia. Patients may also complain of a crawling or restless sensation in their legs.

Insomnia
Difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep may result from a variety of disorders. Drug usage (including prescriptions), alcohol and illness may be causes of insomnia. For those with a serious, long-term complaint of having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, an evaluation by a board certified sleep specialist is much more beneficial than simply relieving the symptoms with medications.

APPOINTMENTS

A referral by a doctor is preferred. Any physician can make arrangements for testing simply by calling Hampton Regional Medical Center at (803) 943-1207.

INSURANCE

Almost all tests are performed on an outpatient basis. Most insurance plans that cover outpatient procedures, such as x-rays, should cover sleep testing. If you have any questions about your coverage, please contact your insurance carrier. As a courtesy to you, Hampton Regional Medical Center will bill your insurance company. Co-payments, deductibles, and other non-allowable amounts are due at or before the time of your services unless other arrangements are made; the cost of testing will vary according to the tests performed and parameters monitored.

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