The Testing Process

In efforts to keep costs low for the company and/or the driver our SLEEP ACCESS ® Network partners utilize the highest quality ambulatory, or home based, sleep testing technology and devices available. This testing method allows us to save you time and money over traditional in lab sleep testing and has been shown to give results that are just as effective in determining if a patient has Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

In order to ensure compliance with all FMCSA, MRB and MCSAC recommendations on ambulatory testing, we will have one of our local partners meet you the day of your sleep test. This local partner will affix an ID band around your wrist that enables us to verify the results of the sleep test are yours. They will also share with you any particular instructions on the use of the testing equipment and answer any questions you may still have.

On the night of your test you will receive a call from the sleep health specialist that is assigned to your test. In many cases this is the Board Certified Sleep Physician that will be diagnosing the final testing results. The purpose of the call is to make sure that everything is correctly set up and that you are comfortable with the process. If you have any remaining questions the sleep health specialist will be able to answer them for you. The only thing left for you to do at this point is sleep.

The morning after your test you will pack up the testing equipment and you will typically meet the local partner at the same location where you received the test. After this the local partner will verify the initial results of the test. Most of the time we will be able to tell you right away if you are positive for OSA but in a few cases it may require an extra day or two for a decision from the Sleep Physician. In all cases the results from your test are sent directly back to your DOT Physician for their records.

The Treatment Process

If your test results show that you are positive for Obstructive Sleep Apnea then our local partner will work with you right away to set you up with a Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) machine. Our program only uses the top of the line machines that are designed with the trucking industry in mind. They will also fit you for your choice of mask that can work with the PAP unit. The rest of their time will be demonstrating the use and care of the machine as well as addressing any questions you may have for your treatment.

We want you to be as comfortable as possible while making the transition to treatment for sleep apnea so make sure and take your time with this entire process. Be sure to ask our local partner any and all questions you have regarding the PAP machine.

After this appointment we will call to check up on you at regular intervals to make sure that you are adjusting to treatment well. If you ever have any questions or need assistance with your new PAP device please do not hesitate to call us. The PAP machine will be reporting your usage and treatment statistics back to us so that we can share your progress with your DOT physician. Most of this information is protected by HIPAA privacy laws and is not able to be shared with any outside sources without your explicit consent.

KEEP IN MIND, YOUR INFORMATION IS ALWAYS KEPT SAFE AND IS NEVER SHARED WITH ANYONE THAT IS NOT EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED BY YOU TO HAVE IT.

SLEEP ACCESS ® will work directly with your company and DOT Physician to ensure they are aware of any drivers who are not in compliance. Keep in mind that your driver health card is most likely contingent on you maintaining a compliant approach to treatment. With most programs, this means wearing the PAP machine for at least 4 hours per night more than 70% of the time. (This means at least 5 out of seven days per week) While this may be the technical standard each company or DOT Physician is free to set their own standard for what constitutes compliance with treatment. We find that most drivers simply wear it every night as they become accustomed to the positive benefits and more restful sleep.

If you have any questions or concerns about the testing and/or treatment process, please contact us us and let us walk you through the process.