| Like any other ailment, insomnia is a health issue | | | | investigates personnel and services and submits a |
| that sufferers want taken care of by competent | | | | report to the accreditation committee, said the |
| and experienced doctors. Luckily, there is already | | | | AASM website. This process can take up to four |
| an association whose goal is to make sure | | | | to six months. |
| insomniacs and other sleep disorder victims get | | | | Also, new sleep centers can apply for provisional |
| the quality care they deserve. | | | | accreditation. In this process, centers and labs |
| The American Sleep Academy, or the American | | | | have six months to build a good history of |
| Academy of Sleep Medicine, has become a | | | | customer service and care, after which they |
| prominent fixture in the world of sleep science. | | | | become eligible for full accreditation. |
| According to their website, it was first established | | | | Another function of AASM involves insurance |
| in 1975 as the Association of Sleep Disorders | | | | companies. They encourage health insurance |
| Centers. Since then, it has developed into the | | | | providers such as Medicare to recognize the |
| largest society of clinicians, researchers and health | | | | difference between accredited sleep centers and |
| care providers in the field of sleep medicine, and | | | | non-accredited ones. As a result, some insurance |
| now has over 7,000 members. | | | | companies only cover costs incurred at AASM |
| The main function of The American Academy of | | | | accredited centers and labs. |
| Sleep Medicine is accreditation. Sleep centers | | | | AASM accredited its first sleep center in 1977, |
| across the United States seek accreditation from | | | | and has now accredited more than 1,500 centers |
| the AASM, as many help seekers know that this | | | | and labs in the United States. |
| is something to look for in a sleep center. These | | | | The American Academy of Sleep Medicine also |
| can be part of a hospital or academic institution, | | | | has an educational function, including webinars and |
| or be independently or physician owned. Either | | | | classes. Also, it does a large amount of research |
| way they are eligible for AASM accreditation. | | | | and publishes the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. |
| For the sleep center, earning AASM accreditation | | | | If you are having sleep problems and in search of |
| isn't easy. First, they must apply for five year | | | | a high quality sleep center, AASM accreditation is |
| accreditation, at which time a sleep specialist is | | | | an important thing to look for. |
| sent out to inspect the center. This specialist | | | | |