Dine with DCH Recap

On September 12, we welcomed 30 attendees to the DCH cafeteria for our Dine with DCH event. The evening began with a celebration and presentation by the DCH Auxiliary. In 2011, the Auxiliary pledged $80,000 to DCH, and at the September 12 event, the remaining $5,000 of that commitment was presented.

Following the check presentation, Renee Fitzhugh, RPSGT, Sleep Lab Manager with Practical Sleep Services provided an informative program on sleep disorders and the role sleep studies play in diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

Renee highlighted common sleep disorders such as apnea and restless leg syndrome, detailed the process for diagnosing these disorders, and discussed treatment options. Renee also answered questions about sleep disorders from those in attendance.

A sleep study can diagnose sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, sleepwalking and other severe medical conditions. If you suffer from headaches in the morning, snoring, frequent drowsiness or insomnia, you should talk to your doctor about the possible need for a sleep study. Your physician will be able to refer you to Decatur County Hospital so your study can be done locally.

Sleep studies provided by our partner, Practical Sleep Services, can be performed either on site in our overnight DCH Sleep Lab, or at the patient’s home. In home studies are administered by the patient with instructions from Practical Sleep Services.

Due to new regulations for Medicare and Medicaid recipients, all facilities performing sleep studies must be accredited.  Therefore, if you are a Medicare or Medicaid patient, your sleep study will only be covered if completed in a hospital that has an accredited sleep lab. Our sleep study service has been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). ACHC is a not-for-profit organization that has stood as a symbol of quality and excellence since 1986.  DCH is one of only a few hospitals in Decatur County to receive this accreditation.

This accreditation shows our patients and community members that DCH has a continued commitment to provide the most high-quality and specialized services close to home. For more information about our Sleep Lab, call 641-446-2323. To learn more about Decatur County Hospital and our available services, please visit www.www.decaturcountyhospital.org, or follow us on Facebook @DecaturCountyHospitalIowa.