LifeWatch approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) as an Out of Center Sleep Test Supplier (OCSTS)

LifeWatch Inc. announces that it is an AASM approved Out of Center Sleep Test Supplier.

LifeWatch Inc., a leading U.S. provider of remote patient monitoring solutions, including home sleep testing services for the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), announced today it has been approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) as an Out of Center Sleep Test Supplier (OCSTS). LifeWatch has met the Academy’s quality standards for Out of Center testing.

"The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates LifeWatch for earning the Approved OCST Supplier designation,” said AASM President M. Safwan Badr, MD. "This designation reflects a commitment to excellence in the provision of out of center sleep testing and confirms that the services provided by LifeWatch meet AASM accreditation standards. Sleep centers that are interested in outsourcing some OCST services can have confidence in knowing that their partnership with an Approved OCST Supplier will maintain the high quality of their diagnostic patient care.”

"LifeWatch is extremely proud that the Academy has recognized our accomplishments in delivering high quality and patient-centric home sleep testing for OSA. For over 20 years, LifeWatch has been at the forefront of developing innovative patient monitoring technologies and services that can deliver a faster diagnostic yield while reducing the costs of care,” said Roger Richardson, President of LifeWatch Services, Inc. "LifeWatch is one of the few Out of Center Sleep Test Suppliers, that also holds the Joint Commission’s 'Gold Seal of Approval' accreditation in Ambulatory Telehealth.”

About OSA

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 70 million Americans [approximately 18% of adults] suffer from some type of obstructive sleep impairment, with approximately 82% of individuals with OSA remaining undiagnosed. Unmanaged OSA patients are estimated to cost the economy $65-265B per year in lost productivity and incremental healthcare costs. – The Price of Fatigue, Harvard Medical School, 2010. OSA also contributes to other serious diseases such as Atrial Fibrillation, Diabetes, Hypertension and Heart Failure. Treating OSA has the potential to dramatically reduce medical expenses, improve a patient quality of life and lower associated health risks.

About LifeWatch

For over 20 years, LifeWatch has helped thousands of healthcare professionals diagnose, treat and improve the health outcomes of millions of at-risk patients through advanced health monitoring solutions and services. With access to real-time patient data and analytics, physicians and care teams can better collaborate with patients for detection and intervention at the earliest sign of a significant health event. LifeWatch offers integrated EHR solutions to help reduce the burden on clinicians brought on by the increasing complexity of patient care, while also supporting institutions in their initiatives to modernize healthcare delivery. All LifeWatch remote monitoring solutions are backed by unmatched service, support and a strong local presence. As an industry leader, the company is committed to developing technology and information solutions that set the standard for patient monitoring. LifeWatch was the first remote monitoring solutions provider to receive Joint Commission accreditation in telehealth, to deliver an online physician information portal and to offer auto-trigger monitoring services. Its solutions meet or exceed ISO, FDA and CMS standards, reflecting its dedication to meet key performance indicators in patient care. With an extensive payor network of over 500 contracts, LifeWatch monitoring solutions are accessible to a greater patient population. A wide range of monitoring options allows physicians to select the right device for patient needs and payor requirements. Streamlined enrollment encourages patient compliance and faster reimbursement. LifeWatch solutions can interface with any EMR system, which allows the secure electronic exchange of patient data to help physicians meet Meaningful Use criteria. For more information, visit www.lifewatch.com.