Home-Based Evaluation and Management of Sleep Disordered Breathing via Telehealth

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a common clinical problem. The demand for specialized care for SDB and other sleep-related problems is increasing with a declining number of board-certified sleep physicians. The convenience of telemedicine (TM) is especially noteworthy for the management of chronic illnesses such as SDB as many patient visits can be conducted remotely utilizing a secure HIPPA compliant system without sacrificing quality of care. This chapter outlines a TM-based approach for the diagnosis and management of SDB and defines patient populations in whom it can be used. Given the advantages of a TM-based approach, we expect it to assume an expanding role in the management of patients with OSA over time. Evolving technology will further facilitate the role of TM in the diagnosis and management of SDB.