SNOOZE NEWS – March 2023

Welcome to SNOOZE NEWS – the newsletter for SSM Sleep Management LLC and its affiliated companies.

In This Issue…

Leadership Message from Dr. Lavin
Christmas Party (Picture)
Personal Growth Minute
Leadership Retreat (Pictures)
Medical Minute – The Heart of the Matter
New Employee Spotlight – Bryan Hanaki
New Facility – Byrd Regional Hospital
Ochsner-Monroe Presentation with Dr. Ware (Pictures)
New Employees (Q1 2023)
March Birthdays
March Anniversaries

Leadership Message – Dr. Lavin

“New” is a great word to represent our organization in 2022: new record-breaking numbers of patients serviced, new departments and service lines, new hospital partnerships, new physician relationships, new Team members across the state, and new approaches to expanding the reach of our business and the spectrum of care we provide.

None of our accomplishments are possible without each of you. Mark Sanborn, author of The Fred Factor, says “Everyone Makes a Difference.” This is so true! At every level of our organization, the contributions you provide are significant and valued. Remember this every day!

As we continue our journey of growth into 2023, more “news” are on the horizon. Innovative, exciting treatment pathways to offer our patients. Cultivating additional hospital partnerships and physician relationships. And most importantly – investing in the personal growth of our Team! The more you grow and succeed, so too does SSM!

Thank you all for pushing your personal boundaries to grow and accept change! I have never been associated with a more exciting, talented, cohesive group of leaders and it totally energizes me every day!!

We are excited for what’s in store this year and beyond. And we are so excited to have each of YOU contributing to our success!!

Remember – everyone makes a difference. YOU make a difference!

Office Christmas Party 2022

Personal Growth Minute

“You add value to people when you value them.” –John Maxwell

Value is a two-way street: show someone the value they provide; in return, value will be given to you. Recognizing contributions and opportunities, highlighting accomplishments, investing time into someone’s personal and professional development – all elements of a Value Cycle that creates an environment of learning, growth, and success.

In Tom Rath’s book It’s Not About You, he writes: “no position or permission is needed to have a positive influence. You just have to start – Today.” Each of us makes the choice to add value to someone else’s life every day – in the lives of our patients, our providers, our families, and our Team. When we approach each day as a new opportunity to create a positive impact for others, we contribute to the Value Cycle of our organization.

Start Today! Be intentional and ask yourself, “What Can I Do To Add Value Today?” If we all do that every day, small habits, over time, will create big results!

Leadership Meeting

Dr. Lavin hosted a Leadership Retreat at the Grayton Beach Dream House in January. Click or tap on the photos below for the full-sized slideshow.

Medical Minute – The Heart of the Matter

Discussion: OSA is a common breathing disorder that has been associated with an increased risk of hypertension, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, Type 2 diabetes, and other conditions.

Early screening, identification, and treatment of sleep apnea may help prevent these conditions’ development and management.
Key factors often associated with OSA include BMI>30, Large neck circumference (17 inches for males and 16 inches for females), Micrognathia or crowded airway, and daytime sleepiness or fatigue
The prevalence of OSA is substantially higher in some population subgroups compared with the general population, according to the AASM. For example, patients being evaluated for bariatric surgery have an estimated prevalence of 70% to 80%, and patients who have had a transient ischemic attack or stroke have an estimated prevalence of 60% to 70%

Conclusion: The risk of OSA can be assessed based on medical history and pretest prediction models, such as STOP-Bang. This brief 2-minute screening questionnaire quantifies risk based on four self-reported criteria (STOP: snoring, tiredness, observed apnea, and high blood pressure) and four demographic items (Bang: BMI, age, neck circumference, and gender)

Bottom Line: Compared to patients with untreated OSA, effective treatment of OSA can positively impact Cardiovascular outcomes in both fatal and nonfatal events. Effective treatment can improve outcomes for patients with hypertension, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and Type 2 diabetes. Treatment of OSA with CPAP therapy improves sleep-related breathing. Adequately treated OSA also has been associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes

New Employee Spotlight – Bryan Hanaki

Joining our team in a whirlwind of activity is Bryan Hanaki. Bryan is a healthcare veteran who brings experience in hospital administration, clinic operations, project management, technology, and 14 years of sleep lab operations (he’s also a licensed sleep tech). He most recently has worked with Louisiana Healthcare Connections (one of the six Louisiana Medicaid MCOs) and the state Office of Public Health. Bryan received his undergraduate degree in economics from Occidental College, his MBA from LSU, and his green belt certification in Lean Six Sigma from the University of Texas, Arlington. Bryan is a fan of LSU, Tulane, and the New Orleans Saints.

New Facility – Byrd Regional Hospital

Byrd Regional Hospital in Leesville, LA scheduled to open April 3, 2023. This 3-bed facility will be accredited by ACHC.

Ochsner-Monroe Presentation with Dr. Ware

Payton Mayo and Jessica Adams hosted a presentation with Dr. Ware for the residents at Ochsner-Monroe. Click or tap on the photos below for the full-sized slideshow.