Insights accelerated access to sleep apnea studies and receiving the results

In 2017, the polysomnography equipment was retrieved from the clinical neurophysiology unit in advance, and the device guidance given to the patient in person took half an hour. Nurses instructed 4–5 patients per day. The content of the guidance with different patients was often the same.

Then the number of referrals made to HUS to investigate sleep apnea increased dramatically.

Access to guidance, providing statements and making a diagnosis were achieved significantly more quickly with suspected sleep apnea

Clinical neurophysiology in HUS Diagnostic Center was able to accelerate the process with an insight that one could provide guidance to more than one patient at a time, and group guidance sessions were started alongside individual guidance. The provision of reports and statements was accelerated by streamlining report content into three categories. This allowed the physician’s reporting to be carried out almost three times as fast.

Polysomnography can be selected with individual or group guidance

Patients receive a referral for polysomnography from primary healthcare, allowing them to quickly book an appointment online to receive individual or group guidance in their preferred unit, as they choose. Individual guidance is still recommended if the patient requires an escort or if assistance is needed in setting up the equipment to be worn.

There are up to five patients in the groups depending on the pandemic situation. First, the nurse will shows how to put on the device. Patients repeat the same, each with their own device. After the guidance, there is time reserved for questions and personal advice.

Effectiveness of the project: Significantly more polysomnographies have been performed, the physicians and nurses have saved working hours, and the patient has received their report on the examination faster

• The number of patients who completed the polysomnography multiplied: in 2017, a total of 1,751 patients were studied, and in 2022, the polysomnography was conducted on more than 6,000 patients.
• Although the number of studies completed has multiplied, the report is received quickly, i.e., on average less than a week after the study.
• Although the number of patients increased, the total time physicians spent on all polysomnographies was reduced by 52% and nurses’ working hours were reduced by 15% already during the first year of the project.
• Situation now: access to polysomnography varies so that sometimes the study can be conducted as soon as within a week or the patient may need to wait for as long as two months, but before group guidance sessions were arranged, the waiting lists were considerably longer.