Barnesville Hospital Sleep Center Earns National Accreditation

(Standing, L-R) Gurmeet Singh, M.D., Jeff Britton, MBA, RRT, RCP, Director of the Sleep Center, and Attila Lenkey, M.D., Medical Director
(Seated, L-R) Wendy Williams, BA, RPSGT and Lisa Bennett, sleep lab assistant

The Sleep Diagnostic Center at Barnesville Hospital is pleased to announce they have received full accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). "The AASM congratulates SleepCare of Barnesville Hospital on fulfilling the high standards required for receiving accreditation as a sleep disorders center," said Dr. Mary Susan Esther, AASM president. "The Center is a significant resource to the local medical community and will provide the highest quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders."

To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center's facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts, and physician training. Additionally, the facility's goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

The sleep center opened in July 2003 under the medical direction of Dr. Attila Lenkey, board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist. The Sleep Center's medical staff also includes Dr. Gurmeet Singh, board-certified neurologist. "We are very pleased to receive the AASM accreditation. The Sleep Center at Barnesville Hospital continually strives to provide services of the highest quality to the community," states Jeff Britton, MBA, RRT, RCP, Director of the Sleep Center.

As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers and laboratories for sleep-related breathing disorders, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is the leading voice promoting the highest quality of medical care for people with sleep problems. The first sleep center was accredited in 1977, and now more than 1,500 centers and labs are accredited by the AASM and are providing trusted medical assistance in communities all across the country.

AASM accreditation is the gold standard by which the medical community and the public can evaluate the services provided by a sleep center or lab. The standards for accreditation ensure that sleep medicine providers' display and maintain proficiency in areas such as testing procedures and policies, patient safety and follow-up, and physician and staff training.

Under the guidance of Dr. Lenkey and Mr. Britton, a team of technicians perform over 250 studies annually at Barnesville Hospital. The Sleep Center at Barnesville Hospital has been providing services to the community for over 5 years.

"I'm very proud of everyone in the sleep center who, on a daily basis, maintain the standard of excellence which separate us from other area labs", states Dr. Lenkey. "I believe patients will be very pleased with the quality care they receive at the Barnesville Hospital Sleep Center."

AASM accreditation provides a high level of confidence for patients and referring physicians that only the highest quality care is being provided. For information about Barnesville Hospital's Sleep Center, call (740) 425-5144 or visit the Sleep Lab page.