title: The emerging role of telemedicine in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.
abstract: Over one-third of adults are at risk of developing sleep disorders. Telemedicine is emerging as an effective tool in sleep medicine by allowing people to undergo sleep studies without overnight hospital stays (e.g. monitoring at home). Telemedicine has the potential to overcome several obstacles in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders by offering increased access to sleep specialists, enhancing health-care support for patients in their homes and providing cost-effective professional education. The initial costs for telemedicine equipment and training are not insignificant; however, the benefits may outweigh the expense over time. However, recapturing the initial costs cannot be assumed.
authors.affiliation: Idaho Neurological at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA. penseibert@msn.com
authors.forename: Pennie S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Seibert
authors.forename: Tiffany A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Whitmore
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Fred P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Grimsley
authors.forename: Kattie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Janat E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000639:trends; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*