Why and How You Should Add Neurodiagnostics to Your Sleep Center
The market need for neurodiagnostic testing is increasing. Its long-term growth is driven by an aging population that needs treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, management of strokes, intervention with spinal cord injuries, and therapeutic devices for psychiatric disorders—all diseases that impact sleep. There is a synergy between the sciences of neurodiagnostics and sleep diagnostics, including much overlap in expertise and equipment. Sleep centers can thereby benefit themselves and their patients by integrating neurodiagnostic services into their offerings.
Recognizing the interdisciplinary understanding of medical disorders secondary to dysfunctional sleep highlights the value for considering the integration of neurodiagnostic services.
Neurodiagnostic and sleep technologists alike complete the same specialized training to learn application of EEG, electrocardiogram (ECG), and eye leads for monitoring clinical parameters. Both techs study cardiovascular, respiratory, psychiatric, and neurologic disorders. There is a technical overlap of the electrical parameters required to perform both EEG and polysomnography (PSG), including adjustment and documentation of gain, filters, calibrations, and impedances. Some recording devices on the market even have the capability of recording both EEG and PSG on the same device, which makes such equipment a cost-effective investment for sleep labs that offer both neurodiagnostic and sleep services.
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The process for completing credentialing to perform both EEG and PSG is comparable, with some techs electing to complete credentialing in both. Techs with dual credentials provide a staffing bridge between the neurodiagnostic and sleep centers. EEG techs who work days can also be trained to perform daytime multiple sleep latency tests and maintenance of wakefulness tests, which are in the domain of the sleep center. Also, since the same techs with expertise in neurodiagnostic and sleep studies are observing the EEG for symptoms of SDB, it follows that more studies will be referred to the sleep center for testing.
Market Trends
Neuroimaging advances including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), EEG, and magnetoencephalography (MEG) improve diagnosis of neurologic disorders. New biomarkers and imaging protocols contribute to earlier diagnosis and monitoring of disease. Neuroinformatics provide multidimensional databases and software systems that store and analyze data ranging from genetic to behavioral scopes.
Key clinical directions add to the benefits of sleep center diversification. The aging market impacts the demand for more research and sustainable treatment options of neurodegenerative disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and other movement disorders. Novel stimulation devices are available for the treatment of asthma, migraine, and epilepsy. There is a demand to use diagnostics to change the treatment landscape of anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Leading companies operating in this research are GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens Healthineers, Hitachi, Ltd, Canon, Inc., Natus Medical Incorporated, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag, Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc, Lifelines Neuro, Mitsar Co. etc.
Neurodiagnostics and assessment of sleep disorders both impact the management of psychiatric disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, as well as neuromuscular disorders.
Source: sleepreviewmag