Attended Sleep Lab Opens at Kaiser Permanente's Martinez Medical Offices

Nearly 100 people gathered for the August 8th ribbon cutting of Kaiser Permanente’s new Attended Sleep Lab.

The Attended Sleep Lab at the Martinez Medical Offices is designed with advanced technology to conduct overnight sleep studies and help diagnose complex sleep disorders. It follows the openings over the last few years of the peritoneal dialysis department and the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, also located on the Martinez campus.

“We have been a part of the Martinez community for more than 38 years,” said Dr. Judy Lively, physician-in-chief for Kaiser Permanente’s Diablo Area at the ribbon cutting celebration. “Things have evolved on the Martinez campus over the years but our passion and commitment to doing what is right for our patients and to help make their lives better remains consistent and unchanged.”

“This is a great example of Kaiser Permanente investing in our community,” said Tim Daly, chief operating officer for Kaiser Permanente’s Walnut Creek Medical Center. “In the last year I have been to the openings of our new San Ramon Medical Offices, and the state-of-the-art medical centers in Oakland and San Leandro and now this Attended Sleep Lab in Martinez. Kaiser Permanente is making important investments in our communities and the health of our members.”

Those referred to the sleep lab stay overnight in a hotel-like room, complete with plush sheets, soft towels and decorator finishes. Amenities also include showers, flat screen televisions and free high speed wi-fi.

A team of technologists down the hall monitor the sleep habits of patients on a bank of monitors, observing everything from respiratory rates to brain wave activity. They use the information to help diagnose complex sleep disorders like night terrors, neurological issues, severe sleep apnea and seizures.

“This sleep lab allows our members to be evaluated for complex sleep disorders in a comfortable and relaxing environment,” said Dr. Samer Morcos, medical director for the sleep lab. “The sleep lab looks and feels like a hotel, so our members can really be at ease and let our technologists get the information they need for a proper diagnosis.”

The 5,500 square foot facility opened to patients in early June with four bedrooms with plans to expand to eight bedrooms within two years. The sleep lab plans to add pediatric services by 2016.

This is the second Regional Sleep Lab for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. The other is located in San Jose.