Frye Regional Medical Center Sleep Center Receives Reaccreditation

HICKORY, NC (November 16, 2023) – The Frye Regional Medical Center Sleep Center recently announced reaccreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Achieving AASM accreditation demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to high quality, patient-centered care for people experiencing a range of sleep problems, including insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea.

“We are honored to earn reaccreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,” said Mary O. Polk, MD, a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine physician and medical director of the Frye Regional Sleep Center. “Our team is committed to helping our patients achieve restful sleep. We offer preventive services to minimize risk factors, on-site and at-home sleep studies to evaluate sleep patterns, and customized treatment plans including everything from medications and behavior modification therapies to non-invasive medical devices to facilitate better breathing.”

To receive and maintain accreditation for a five-year period, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. These standards address core areas such as personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care, and quality assurance. Additionally, the sleep center’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

“The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates the Frye Regional Sleep Center on meeting the high standards required to earn accreditation as a sleep disorders center,” said James Rowley, MD, AASM president. “Sleep centers are an important resource for the local community. Sleep is essential to health, and the effective treatment of sleep disorders can be life changing.”

More than 50 million Americans have sleep disorders, and 1 in 3 adults do not regularly get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep they need to protect their health. Left untreated, serious conditions such as sleep apnea may have life-threatening consequences due to the toll taken on the cardiovascular and neurological systems.

Most medical insurance plans cover both the diagnosis and treatment for sleep disorders. Please contact your medical insurance to learn more about coverage.

Frye Regional Sleep Center can help with any pre-authorization needed for sleep studies. Call 828-315-3390 and select option 1 for more information on sleep disorders or to schedule an appointment.