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Sleep Services

Sleep Services

Sleep Medicine at the San Leandro and Fremont Medical Centers, along with the Regional Sleep Medicine Lab at the San Jose Medical Centers are dedicated to providing exceptional services for evaluation and treatment of patients with sleep disorders. Patients may start the process by being seen in the outpatient Sleep Medicine departments at the local facilities (San Leandro or Fremont) or referred to the overnight, attended Sleep Labs in San Jose or Martinez. This will depend on the physician’s request based on your condition.

The first step in the evaluation of the sleep study mentioned above, to determine if you are positive or negative for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This is typically done at the local outpatient departments. Even mild levels of Sleep Apnea can result in daytime fatigue and problems with concentration. More severe levels of apnea have been linked with a variety of health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased risks of heart attack and stroke.

Your sleep diagnosis and treatment may include an outpatient sleep study, a visit with a respiratory therapist, a visit with a sleep physician, and/or an overnight study in our attended sleep laboratory.

Sleep Services at the San Leandro Medical Center
 2500 Merced Street
Building A, 2nd Floor, Department 206 – Pulmonology/Sleep Medicine
San Leandro, CA 94577

Telephone
510-454-4647

Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Directions: How to get here

Sleep Services at the Fremont Medical Center
39400 Paseo Padre Parkway
Niles Building West, 1st Floor, Pulmonology/Sleep Medicine
Fremont, CA 94538

Telephone
510-248-3747

Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Services offered through our Sleep Medicine Department:

Diagnostic

  1. A referral from your physician must be placed prior to scheduling an appointment for a sleep study. A sleep study class or individual appointment involves a take home device called a WatchPAT. You will buckle the watch-like device to your wrist and place your finger in a probe when you are ready to go to bed for the evening. The device is to be returned the next day in the drop-box in the waiting area of the department.
  2. For pediatric patients ages 10-17, and specific adult patients a device called NOXT3 will be dispensed. This device requires you to wrap a Velcro strap around your chest for the night. It is a Bluetooth, wireless device used to diagnose sleep apnea. The device needs to be returned the next day to the drop box in the department waiting area. The same process as outlined in #1 will be followed.
  3. You will be asked to sleep with the equipment attached for one night and it must be returned the next day to the drop-box in the lobby of the departments. If you are positive for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) you will have an appointment with a Respiratory Therapist to discuss treatment options. If you are negative of OSA you may receive and email indicating your results and to follow-up with your PCP if needed.

Treatment

  1. The next step in the process is to complete a CPAP Titration. Kaiser Permanente Sleep Physicians recommend CPAP as the treatment of choice for OSA.
  2. This step determines how to treat your individual needs and develop a personalized plan for using your CPAP. This may be done in a class or an individual appointment. The appointment will review your sleep study results, how to use the CPAP device, mask fitting, how to order supplies, how to clean the unit and the pressure settings recommended for you.
  3. Your device will be entered by serial number and device number into a remote monitoring system called AirView. The Respiratory Therapist or Sleep Technician can evaluate how you are doing with the device, make remote changes to pressures if indicated, or determine if you may need a different mask.
  4. If you were given a loaner CPAP unit from the department you will be asked to return it in 4-7 days to the drop-box in the lobby of the department. If you were dispensed your own device you should expect to hear from a Respiratory Therapist or Sleep Technician by phone one week after the initiation to discuss the data obtained in AirView.
  5. The data obtained will be interpreted and downloaded to your health record.

Follow-up

  1. Follow-up sleep care – You may call the department at any time between 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM if you have questions or need expert help. You should expect a call from a Respiratory Therapist in approximately 2 months to see how you are doing and changes recommended for pressures or masks if indicated.
  2. If you are a CPAP user we want to have an annual telephone visit to check on how you are doing and answer any questions you may have. You may opt to do this in person if that is a better choice for you.
  3. At each step of the process, a Pulmonologist will be consulted and review and interpret the results of the data obtained from your studies. The physician works closely with the Respiratory Therapist and Sleep Technician to develop the best plan of care for you.

CPAP Resource Information

Using CPAP for Sleep Apnea Emmi – Getting started with a nighttime breathing device for sleep apnea; finding the right mask for you and getting adjusted to it. Covers benefits, alternatives and troubleshooting (20 minutes).

  1. Re-order Supplies-Apria Healthcare: 1-800-731-3408
    • Mask/Headgear-1 every 6 months
    • Mask Cushion only-1 every 3 months
    • Nasal Pillow Cushion only-2 every month
    • Tubing- 1 every 3 months
    • Filters: Humidifier Water Chamber-1 every 6 months, Disposable White paper/fabric filter-2 every month
    • Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for questions related to warranty info, coverage etc. 1-877-317-6230
  2. CPAP Cleaning Instruction
    • Device: Unplug before cleaning. Wipe the outside of the device with a soft, slightly dampened cloth. Let dry completely
    • Cleaning/replacing filters: Regularly examine the inlet filter as needed for integrity and cleanliness. Unplug the device. If the white rectangular filter is grey or torn, replace it. Throw the old filter away. A dirty filter will affect the device performance
    • Mask: DAILY, gently wash mask in warm water with mild dish soap. Rinse well with cool water and air dry.
    • Tubing: Disconnect from device. WEEKLY, gently wash tubing in warm water with mild dish soap. Rinse well with cool water and air dry.
    • Humidifier: DAILY, empty and clean water tank to prevent mold and bacteria. Wash in warm water with mild dish soap. Rinse well and air dry. Refill water tank
    • Kaiser Permanente recommends cleaning supplies with soap and water. We are not recommending the devices being advertised to clean your supplies.
    • Member Services (Benefits and Co-Payment info): 800-464-4000
    • The closest Apria (your DME supplier) within our service area is located at 2476 Verna Ct., San Leandro, CA  94577, 510-346-4000. There are other Apria branches located throughout the Bay Area.
    • American Sleep Apnea Association has a message board that can help answer some of your OSA and CPAP related questions.