Dr. David C. Thornton
The upgrading of FirstHealth of the Carolinas’ three Sleep Disorders Centers with new state-of-the-art technology begins a process aimed at national accreditation for the program’s three hospital sleep labs.
According to Dr. David C. Thornton, a pulmonologist and medical director of FirstHealth’s Sleep Disorders program, the new sleep lab testing and interpretation equipment and software meet all of the standards required for accreditation.
“Our new equipment will help our sleep disorders program meet the criteria for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) so we can begin our accreditation process,” Thornton said. “AASM accreditation is the gold standard for sleep labs, and achieving national accreditation is our primary goal.”
Sleep lab medical staff and technologists at Moore Regional, Richmond Memorial and Montgomery Memorial were trained in the use of the new Nihon Kohden equipment during a two-week installation period in early April. Nihon Kohden is one of the world’s largest suppliers of medical equipment.
For more information on FirstHealth’s Sleep Disorders programs or for information on the classic signs and symptoms of sleep disorders, visit www.firsthealth.org/sleep.
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