EMPORIA, VA (November 10, 2011) – The Sleep Disorders Center at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center recently received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

“The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates SVRMC Sleep Disorders Center on fulfilling the high standards required for receiving accreditation as a sleep disorders center,” said Dr. Nancy Collop, AASM president. “The SVRMC Sleep Disorders Center is a significant resource to the local medical community and will provide academic and scientific value in addition to the highest quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders.”

To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center’s facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts, and physician training. Additionally, the facility’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine currently accredits more than 2,200 sleep medicine centers and laboratories across the country.

The SVRMC Sleep Disorders Center is directed by Rakesh K Sood, MD Sleep Medicine and Psychiatry, and is located at 727 North Main Street.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a professional medical society for clinicians, researchers, and other health care providers in the field of sleep medicine. As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers and labs, the AASM is dedicated to setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine health care, education and research.

Pictured L-R: Donna Taylor, LPN, Brit Phelps, CEO, Rakesh Sood, MD, Medical Director,
Michelle Bonnett, Alberto Babaran, RPSGT; 2nd Row: Pam Daves, Unit Secretary, Beth
Parrish, RRT, RPSGT, Jay Ewing, Director, Teresa Oswald, NP, and Catherine Clary,
LPN, RPSGT.