Wishing our members a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from the WSSS!

Wishing you peace this holiday season!

Happy Hanukkah from the WSSS!

Wishing you peace this holiday season!

RPSGTs... Need to re-up your registration? Check out these tips

Don't let the six-month re-certification window creep up on you... there are several tasks that you need to complete in order to re-register your credential via the BRPT. They offer some resources to help you with these tasks, including an RPSGT re-certification handbook, online re-certification walkthrough, FAQs and other tips and information about getting that all important renewal of your credential. For more information, visit the BRPT re-certification page.

Holiday Greetings from the WSSS!

Happy Thanksgiving to our members!

Maybe it's the tryptophan, 

maybe it's the wine,
or all the carbo loading...

or maybe, just maybe... 

she's a sleep tech and, 

therefore, sleep deprived...

Sleep Society Members... share your news with us!

If you are a member of the Washington State Sleep Society*, you are invited to share your lab and community outreach news here! Do you have:

• A new sleep education program you want to promote? 
• An established A.W.A.K.E. meeting you want new patients to know about? 
• A health fair in your community where sleep will be a represented topic? 
• News about your lab you want to share with the community?
• Information to share about a sleep health campaign you are participating in?
• Questions or requests about sleep health practices you'd like to share with other labs?

Simply send your information to the webmaster (Tamara) at info@wasleep.com. She will post it on the appropriate page and/or in the blog.

*If you attended the 2014 Washington State Sleep Society Sleep Conference, then you are a member. If you did not attend the conference but would like to become a member, please contact us at info@wasleep.com.

PSG students encouraged to apply for BRPT tuition grant

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) will accept applications for the fifth annual Andrea Patterson Memorial Scholarship Program through November 30. The grant amounts to $2,500 to cover tuition for PSG students.

Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in or accepted by a CAAHEP-accredited program in PSG, a CoARC-accredited program with a PSG add-on, or an accredited END program with a PSG add-on. The scholarship application, a full description of eligibility requirements, and other program details are available at www.brpt.org. Application deadline is no later than close of business November 30. The winner will be announced in February 2015.

The scholarship is named for Andrea Patterson, RPSGT, R. EEG T., who managed the Hennepin County Sleep Program in Minneapolis for almost 30 years and who published extensively about sleep medicine topics in scientific journals. Patterson led early efforts to develop standardized competency-based board exams for sleep technologists. Those efforts were the precursor of today's RPSGT credentialing program.

“The Scholarship program is a highlight each year as I very much enjoy learning more about the next generation of sleep technologists and what led them into the field. The applicant pool is comprised of motivated professionals on a very clear career path,” said BRPT President Theresa Krupski, RPSGT, RRT.

Thanks for a great conference!

Just a quick note from the board to say THANK YOU to all the great people who attended our conference last weekend! We had some really interesting speakers, vendors who are passionate about sleep health and a great body of members to network with! If you had a good experience, please share it with your cohorts at your labs, clinics, DME offices, hospitals and other places where sleep health care is a priority. Word of mouth is our best ally in growing this conference and we hope this year's improvements in venue and programming met with your satisfaction! Keep up the good work, everyone!

A few conference spots still open!

REGISTER NOW!

We have reviewed our registrations and still have a few seats left! Don't miss out on this affordable chance to earn 10 CEUs (AAST), interact with a great new lineup of speakers, pursue relevant topics, and enjoy the NEW IMPROVED VENUE and NEW VENDOR HALL in 2014!

REGISTER NOW! Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Fee: $165 until October 15. Fee includes membership, breakfast, lunch, coffee, two full days of educational programming and access to regional sleep health vendors, all which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?
E-mail: info@wasleep.com
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310

Early Bird Rates End TONIGHT! Sign up now for the WA State Sleep Society Conference || Oct 17-18, Bremerton, WA!

REGISTER NOW!

Don't miss out on this year's conference! We offer 10 CEUs (AAST), a great lineup of speakers, relevant topics, and a NEW IMPROVED VENUE and NEW VENDOR HALL in 2014!

REGISTER NOW! Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Fee: $150 until tonight at midnight; tomorrow, the rate increases to $165. Registration ends October 10. Fee includes membership, breakfast, lunch, coffee and two full days of educational programming which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?
E-mail: info@wasleep.com
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310

Early Bird Rates End Tomorrow! Sign up now for the WA State Sleep Society Conference || Oct 17-18, Bremerton, WA!

REGISTER NOW!

Don't miss out on this year's conference! We offer 10 CEUs (AAST), a great lineup of speakers, relevant topics, and a NEW IMPROVED VENUE and NEW VENDOR HALL in 2014!

REGISTER NOW! Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Fee: $150 until TOMORROW October 8; after that day, rate increases to $165. Registration ends October 10. Fee includes membership, breakfast, lunch, coffee and two full days of educational programming which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?
E-mail: info@wasleep.com
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310

Early Bird Registration Deadline extended to Oct 8!

REGISTER HERE!

We're so excited about this year's lineup, we've decided to extend the deadline of the early bird rates by one week!

REGISTER NOW! Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Location: NEW! The gorgeous Kitsap Conference Center Harborside, Bremerton, WA

Speakers and Vendors: Check them out on our conference page!

Fee: $150 until Wednesday Oct 8; after that day, rate increases to $165. Registration ends October 10. Fee includes membership, breakfast, lunch, coffee and two full days of educational programming which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?  
E-mail: info@wasleep.com
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310

THE FULL CONFERENCE LINEUP IS NOW HERE!

REGISTER HERE!

DAY 1 - FRIDAY OCT 17, 2014

850 – 900 (:10)
Dan McCormick, President – WSSS 
Welcoming Announcements

900 – 1000 (1:00)
Cheryl L. Needham, BA, RRT
"The Complicated Sleep Lab Patient: Who are they and how are they treated"

1000 – 1045 (:45)
Cheryl L. Needham, BA, RRT
"Cardiac Overview: Cardiac Disease and OSA"

1045 – 1115 (:30)
30 Minute Break
NEW Vendor Hall Open
Vendors: Cadwell, Fisher & Paykel, Good Night Medical, Natus, Olympia Respiratory Services, Performance Home Medical, Philips Respironics, ResMed, SomnoMed, Sound Oxygen Service, Transcend

1115 – 1215  (1:00)
Melissa Sasser, BS, RRT, RPSGT and Gabe Ward, RRT 
"iVAPS overview (What is it?)"

1200 – 1300  (1:00)
Lunch Buffet

1300 – 1400  (1:00)
Lindsay Johnson, RPSGT 
"Unusual wave patterns"

1400 – 1430  (:30)
30 Minute Break
NEW Vendor Hall Open
Vendors: Cadwell, Fisher & Paykel, Good Night Medical, Natus, Olympia Respiratory Services, Performance Home Medical, Philips Respironics, ResMed, SomnoMed, Sound Oxygen Service, Transcend

1430 – 1515  (:45)
Kate Whettam, Gabe Ward and Jeff Wheeler
Panel Presentation: "New Mask Technologies and Mask Fitting"

1515 – 1600  (:45)
Brian Palen, MD
"COPD and Sleep Disorder Breathing"


DAY 2 - SATURDAY OCT 18, 2014

0830 – 900  (:30)
Dan McCormick, President – WSSS 
Announcements, Registration, Breakfast

0900 – 0945  (:45)
Tamara K. Sellman, RPSGT, CCSH
"Sleep Health Literacy"

0945 – 1030  (:45)
Marsha Fulton, RPSGT and Sue Moore, RPSGT, CRT, RST
"PAP Naps – Do they have a place?"

1030 – 1100  (:30)
30 Minute Break
NEW Vendor Hall Open
Vendors: Cadwell, Fisher & Paykel, Good Night Medical, Natus, Olympia Respiratory Services, Performance Home Medical, Philips Respironics, ResMed, SomnoMed, Sound Oxygen Service, Transcend

1100 – 1200  (1:00)
Vishesh Kapur, MD, MPH 
"Overview: Sleep Disordered Breathing"

1200 – 1300  (1:00)
Lunch Buffet

1300 – 1400  (1:00)
Steve Marinkovich, DDS, ABDSM 
"Beyond CPAP in the treatment of OSA"

1400 – 1430  (:30)
30 Minute Break
NEW Vendor Hall Open
Vendors: Cadwell, Fisher & Paykel, Good Night Medical, Natus, Olympia Respiratory Services, Performance Home Medical, Philips Respironics, ResMed, SomnoMed, Sound Oxygen Service, Transcend

1430 – 1515  (:45)
Richard D. Simon, Jr., MD, FAASM
“Shiftwork and Sleepiness in the Workplace”

1515 – 1600  (:45)
Richard D. Simon, Jr., MD, FAASM
"Teens and Sleep"

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY BIRD RATES!

Don't miss out on this year's conference! We offer ten CEUs (AAST), a great lineup of speakers, relevant topics, and a NEW IMPROVED VENUE and NEW VENDOR HALL in 2014!

REGISTER NOW! Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Fee: $150 until TOMORROW September 26; after that day, rate increases to $165. Registration ends October 10. Fee includes membership, breakfast, lunch, coffee and two full days of educational programming which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?  
E-mail: info@wasleep.com
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310

Five more days left to take advantage of conference early bird rates!!!

Don't miss out on this year's conference! We offer ten CEUs (AAST), a great lineup of speakers, relevant topics, and a NEW IMPROVED VENUE and NEW VENDOR HALL in 2014!

REGISTER NOW! Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014  

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Fee: $150 until September 26; after that day, rate increases to $165. Registration ends October 10. 

Fee includes membership, breakfast, lunch, coffee and two full days of educational programming which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?    
E-mail: info@wasleep.com
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310

Remember... Conference early bird registration rates expire 9.26!

Don't miss out on this year's conference! We offer ten CEUs (AAST), a great lineup of speakers, relevant topics, and a NEW IMPROVED VENUE and NEW VENDOR HALL in 2014!

REGISTER NOW! Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014  

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Fee: $150 until September 26; after that day, rate increases to $165. Registration ends October 10. Fee includes breakfast, lunch, coffee and two full days of educational programming which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?    
E-mail: info@wasleep.com
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310

Check out our new venue!

We're excited to move the annual Washington State Sleep Society Sleep Conference to its new location at the Kitsap Conference Center at Harborside in Bremerton, WA. Check out our new digs!

 

New Vendor Hall for this year's conference!

In our third year offering the sleep conference, the WSSS is proud to welcome the following vendors to our first-ever Vendor Hall at the 2014 event. Please note: vendor booth registration is now closed. 

Here's a sneak peek at some of our upcoming conference offerings...

Are you still thinking about registering for this year's conference? Check out these topics of interest:

Mask fit: With so much variation in kinds of masks, facial architecture and patient sensitivities, it’s always a good idea to review not only how to fit a mask and how to acclimate a patient, but also to know why your role as sleep tech matters long after the patient has left the lab with their CPAP machine in tow. A robust discussion about the pros and cons of using full face masks will likely ensue! This moderated panel will include representatives from three major CPAP mask manufacturers.

Health Literacy: Recent transitions in US health care now focus on outcome-based care, which will require proven patient compliance and health literacy in order for patients to be reimbursed for services. How can sleep techs educate their patients about the important of sleep by meeting them “where they are at?” What are ways to improve patient education to improve outcomes beyond the lab? And why does patient education even matter? This presentation will feature Tamara Sellman, secretary for the WSSS, RPSGT and CCSH.

PAP Naps: This presentation aims to demystify this promising procedure for diagnosing sleep disordered breathing with demonstrations and instruction from two lab professionals currently performing PAP naps. Learn how to screen for those patients best suited to benefit from this procedure; watch a demonstration of a typical process; ask your questions about reimbursements in the lab; and discover the future of PAP naps. Presented by Sue Moore, treasurer for the WSSS, RPSGT, and Marsha Fulton, vice president for the WSSS, RPSGT. 

Oral Devices: Various dental appliances used to treat mild to moderate OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome) and UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome) are becoming significant options for patients who cannot tolerate or have failed CPAP. How can the sleep technologist successfully titrate patients using these oral devices? In this presentation, Dr. Steve Marinkovich, DDS, D.ABDSM of Evergreen Dental Center will explain titration processes for the various kinds of oral appliances available for sleep health patients.

Other topics to consider: An overview of VAPS (Volume Assured Pressure Support) technologies; how to work with patients with complex, severe cardiopulmonary issues, using noninvasive approaches; sleep-disordered breathing in review; and much much more!

Remember, early bird registration rates of $150 are good until September 26; after that, they increase to $165. Don't delay, register today!

Conference Updates: Hotel options near Kitsap Conference Center - Bremerton Harborside

The Fairfield Inn is one of several hotels located
near the this year's conference venue.

For those traveling to this year's sleep conference now being held at our fabulous new venue, the Kitsap Conference Center - Bremerton Harborside, here are some leads on hotels in the area:

• Click here for information on the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott (Located next to the Conference Center)
  
• Click here for information on the Hampton Inn and Suites (Located 1 block from the Conference Center)
  
• Click here for information on the Baymont Inn and Suites (Located approx. 2 miles from the Conference Center)
  
• Click here for information on the Super 8 Hotel (Located less than 2 miles from the Conference Center)
  
• Click here for information on Quality Inn and Suites (Located less than 2 miles from the Conference Center)
  
• Click here for information on the Oyster Bay Inn (Located less than 2 miles from the Conference Center)
  
• Click here for information on the Flag-Ship Inn (Located less than 2 miles from the Conference Center)

Conference Registration is now open!

 Presented by the WASHINGTON STATE SLEEP SOCIETY

This year’s key address, delivered by ventilation specialist Cheryl Needham, RRT:
“Severe Patients: Managing the challenges of complex, severe cardiopulmonary issues in sleep patients”

Other key topics at this year’s conference include:

Mask Fitting • Health Literacy and Sleep Patients • PAP Nap Basics • Pressure Support Technologies • Sleep Dentistry  ...and much more! 

REGISTER NOW! 
Simply click the Eventbrite link at the left.

Conference FAQs

Date: Friday October 17 to Saturday October 18, 2014   

Time: 830am to 4pm both days

Fee: $150 until September 26; after that day, rate increases to $165. Registration ends October 10. Fee includes breakfast, lunch, coffee and two full days of educational programming which culminate in 10 AAST CECs and a certificate at the end of the conference

Location: NEW IMPROVED VENUE! Kitsap Conference Center at Harborside Bremerton

ALSO NEW! Vendor Hall showcasing the latest sleep health products and services

We look forward to seeing you at this year's conference!

Questions?     
E-mail: info@wasleep.com  
Phone: President Dan McCormick: 253.370.1369 
Surface Mail:  WSSS, PO Box 3124, Bremerton, WA  98310 

BREAKING NEWS... CCSH credential results are in the mail!

If you are one of the first wave of applicants for the new Certificate of Clinical Sleep Health Credential (CCSH) offered by the BRPT, which held its first ever testing period last spring, you should expect to see the results of your exam in the mail very soon from Pearson Vue.

If you can't wait another minute to see if you passed, go to the Credential Verification link at the BRPT and use the SEARCH function (this will tell you whether you passed, but not your score).

BRPT Symposium comes to Portland in September

For Washington state RPSGTs interested in learning more about the new CSE/CCSH credentials, including new programming to prepare for credentialing exams, the BRPT annual symposium spotlights new developments in sleep health education this year in Portland, OR. The symposium is slated for September 5-7.

Multiple registration options are available to meet the needs of technologists with varied training backgrounds. For those looking for sleep health education training, Day One is set aside to cover this new area of focus. Day Two introduces a full day of programming entitled "Sleep Through the Ages." Day Three is "RPSGT Day," which addresses the major issues effecting the career paths of sleep technologists, including discussions about regulations and laws, new technologies and devices, and research advances.

Deadline for early-bird registration is August 1, 2014. For more information, go to the BRPT Symposium website.

Did you miss the first round of CCSH tests? Don't worry, another chance is coming this summer

The first window for testing toward completion of the CCSH (Certification in Clinical Sleep Health) exam closed at the end of last May.

However, the BRPT reports they will open up the second testing window after they have worked with testing partner Pearson VUE this summer to calibrate the test (aka conduct the standard setting.) Once this is done, the next opportunity for testing for this new credential is currently scheduled for July 29, 2014.

Note: BRPT will notify candidates of any changes to the exam availability date, should this occur. For more information, go to the CCSH Eligibility page.

BRPT News: The Sleep Activist newsletter launches

A new electronic newsletter has been launched by the BRPT to serve the interests of healthcare providers who work directly with sleep medicine patients, families and practitioners. According to a release from the BRPT, the purpose of The Sleep Activist is to "provide relevant and timely information to spark readers' interest, provide stories from the field and update readers on new developments regarding the advancement and recognition of clinical sleep health specialists." The newsletter, edited by sleep health activist and educator Robyn Woidtke, MSN, RN, RPSGT, will be produced triquarterly. You can access the inaugural edition of The Sleep Activist here.

Woidtke is actively seeking your stories "from the field;" if you have something to share, please send an email to info@brpt.org with the subject line "Stories From The Field."

SAVE THE DATE! The Third Annual Washington State Sleep Society Conference

Calling all Washington State sleep medicine and technology professionals...

SAVE THE DATE!

The Third Annual Washington State Sleep Conference

WHEN: Fri Oct 17 & Sat Oct 18, 2014 

WHERE: Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside, 100 Washington Ave, Bremerton, WA

New venue! New speakers! New topics! 

Stay tuned for conference speakers, topics and registration information!

Today is Sleep Apnea Awareness Day

Professor Colin Sullivan treating a sleep apnea client in Australia in 1989.

From the ASAA: "On this day in 1981, Professional Colin Sullivan published the results of a small study (five patients) in the British Medical Journal The Lancet entitled 'Reversal of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Applied Through the Nares.'

The use of CPAP revolutionized the treatment of a condition, providing a non-invasive means to eliminate the severe oxygen desaturations and resulting sleep fragmentation that occurs when someone as has sleep apnea. This treatment improves the quality of life by providing a restful night's sleep and there is evidence that it has a positive impact on other conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and depression.

Choosing April 18th as Sleep Apnea Awareness Day we also honor Dr. Colin E. Sullivan, the inventor of CPAP and lead author on the above reference study. The Association published an interview with Dr. Sullivan in the Wake-Up Call in 2006.

His discovery has had a significant positive  impact on the lives of many, many people."

For more information, please visit the
American Sleep Apnea Association

March 10-16, 2015 is Insomnia Awareness Week

From the AASM: "As many as 10 percent of adults have a chronic insomnia disorder, which involves ongoing difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or regularly waking up earlier than desired, despite an adequate opportunity for sleep. It’s characterized by symptoms such as daytime fatigue, worry about sleep, cognitive impairment, irritability and lack of energy." 

TO LEARN MORE, visit The American Academy of Sleep Medicine

March 2-9, 2014 is National Sleep Awareness Week!

Sleep Awareness Week™, which takes place March 2-9, 2014, is an annual public education and awareness campaign to promote the importance of sleep.

 The week begins with the announcement of the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America poll results and ends with the clock change to Daylight Saving Time, where Americans lose one hour of sleep.

The Foundation's Sleep Care Center members host events in their local communities throughout the week, providing sleep education and screening to the public.

This year’s Sleep in America poll looks at sleep and the modern family, an important topic that is sure to generate news!