Geisinger offers new pediatric sleep program

Sept. 29, 2009, DANVILLE – A new sleep program at Geisinger Medical Center is the first in the region to provide inpatient diagnostics and treatment for pediatric patients.

“Children who are hospitalized with conditions such as facial or cranial anomalies and neuromuscular diseases may be at risk for developing a sleep disorder,” said Catherine Wubbel, M.D., a pediatric pulmonologist at Geisinger Medical Center. “With this program, we now have the ability to perform diagnostic testing and offer treatment solutions for sleep disorders that may arise while children are in the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital receiving care for other conditions.”

The multidisciplinary program, which includes experts in pulmonary disease, neurology, otolaryngology, dentistry and psychology, is available to children of all ages, from newborns to age 18, and is the first in the region to be offered as an inpatient service.

“This is an incredibly exciting program. We are proud to be able to offer such a unique, high-quality service to our patients,” said Robert Moser, RRT, MHA, administrative director, Geisinger Health System Sleep Services.

Sleep disorders that can affect children include sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and parasomnias such as sleepwalking or night terrors. Studies suggest that as high as 25 percent of children develop a sleep disorder between birth and the age of 18.

“These conditions exceed the occasional trouble many children have falling or staying asleep, and they can adversely affect a child’s behavior, mood, and overall health,” said Dr. Wubbel. “Some conditions, including sleep apnea and SIDS, can be life threatening.”

Children who chronically struggle to fall asleep, repeatedly wake up during sleep, or snore heavily may suffer from a sleep disorder, Dr. Wubbel said. Other warning signs include difficulty breathing during sleep, breathing pauses, and restless sweaty sleep.

“By performing diagnostic tests and offering treatment strategies to inpatient children and their families, we can help patients eliminate their sleep disorders and improve their quality of life,” said Dr. Wubbel.

About Geisinger Health System
Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System (Danville, Pa.) is one of the nation’s largest integrated health services organizations.  Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. Geisinger is comprised of two medical center campuses, three hospitals, a 740-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company and the Henry Hood Center for Health Research—dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org.