Pictured here is one of the eight bedrooms, designed with comfort in mind.

     North Fulton Regional Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of the newly enhanced Sleep Disorders Center.  Located in the Medical Arts Center adjacent to the hospital, the new Center has eight beds, which is six more than the previous location provided in the main hospital.

     “As many as 30 to 40 million people in the U.S. currently suffer from some form of sleep disorder,” said Pat Moorhead, Director of Rehabilitation Services at North Fulton Regional Hospital.  “Our hope with this expansion is to be able to reach more of these people and help them achieve better sleep patterns.” 

     The new location also allows for a modern, more comfortable atmosphere than the previous hospital location.  Instead of a hospital room, those who participate in the sleep studies will be able to do so in an environment that closely resembles a bedroom, complete with plush carpeting and freshly laundered linens.

     Dr. Peter Futrell, Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center, has high hopes for the new facility.

     “Atmosphere can make such a difference,” Dr. Futrell noted.  “If someone needs a sleep study, it just makes sense to conduct that study in an environment that closely resembles where they would typically sleep.  That’s what we can offer here.”

	Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center Dr. Peter Futrell explains how the video monitoring system works.

     Sleep technologists closely observe each study using video monitoring equipment.  This machinery enables the technologists to pin-point certain behaviors, like the frequent movement of the legs, that could be characteristic of a sleep disorder.  However, the atmosphere is hardly that of ‘Big Brother.’

     “That’s another benefit of having a facility that is so homey,” Pat Moorhead said.  “We have tried to create an environment that is comfortable enough to keep participants from focusing on the cameras.”

     The Center specializes in diagnosing and treating potentially serious sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, excessive snoring, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.  Both day- and night-time studies are offered to accommodate schedules of most individuals, and with shower facilities available in the Center, participants can get ready following the sleep study no matter what their schedules happen to entail.

     However busy one might be, Dr. Futrell stresses the importance of having a sleep study sooner rather than later if an individual exhibits the symptoms, as the earlier a sleep disorder is targeted the better. 

     “Diagnosing and treating some sleep disorders in the early stages may prevent more serious cardiovascular and neurological problems later,” said Dr. Futrell.  “If we can help prevent these more serious issues, I feel like we’re doing our jobs well.”  Helping to prevent these more serious conditions are our physicians, all of whom have extensive training in sleep medicine.

     North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 167-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell.  Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers.  NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology.  The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

     All studies in the Sleep Disorders Center require a physician’s order.  Talk to your physician if you think you might be a candidate for the Sleep Disorders Center, and start on your way to living a more restful life.

     For more information on the Sleep Disorders Center, call 770-751-2910 or visit www.northfultonregional.com/sleep.

Take a tour of the Sleep Disorders Center.