Introducing a Novel Population Centred Sleep Disorders Program Model

In 2005 sleep disorder diagnostic assessments for patients in the Province of Manitoba was conducted at two independent sites. Referrals had accumulated, creating a waiting list of over 3400 patients while only 1200 patients were studied annually. Wait times for diagnosis and treatment increased dramatically. No managed patient database existed, nor were there standards to measure the effectiveness of the services. A system redesign resulted in tripling the throughput with a 35% increase in operating budget, evaluation metrics, elimination of diagnostic handling and treatment start delays, and an increase in treatment rates for positively diagnosed patients from 55% to 70%.