Department: Quality Improvement Department
Document Identifier: SD/HCO/005/02
There is a growing recognition of the prevalence of sleep disorders and their impact on patients and public health. Sleep Medicine is a medical subspecialty dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disturbances and disorders. Dysfunctions of sleep adversely affect alertness, cognition, productivity, safety, learning and mood and are associated with a range of additional pathophysiological processes, leading to adverse metabolic, cardiovascular and mental health outcomes, and mortality. This demands programs and measures to improve sleep habits of patients and the community in general. The practice of Sleep Medicine is progressively developing as new research, policy and technology shift the field to comprehensive patient management. Identifying and managing sleep disorders promotes a better state of health and is increasingly known to impact and improve a wide array of related health conditions. A multi-disciplinary approach to the practice of Sleep Medicine advocates the optimized treatment of sleep disorders wh...