Due to COVID-19, the sleep clinic needed to switch to an off-site, touch-less, at home test for sleep apnea patients. SleepMed provides an at-home sleep apnea test, a very simplified breathing monitor worn by the patient that tracks their breathing, oxygen levels, and breathing effort while worn. The at-home sleep apnea monitor consists of a breathing tube, a pulse oximeter, an ecg/heart rate monitor and monitor housing that collects the sleep data that is warn by the patient as they sleep. The worn sleep apnea monitor stores the patient's vital signs in the monitor that is reviewed by a sleep technician and doctor who will provide the proper treatment to the patient. The device provides objective data to facilitate evaluation of the patients natural sleep. Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be diagnosed via this test. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This form occurs when the throat muscles relax, causing the soft tissue to collapse, resulting in the patient's breathing repeatedly stopping and starting during sleep. If untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory loss, weight gain, impotence. It's essential to note that loud snoring can also be attributed to obesity, daytime fatigue, awakening to shortness of breath during sleep, dry mouth, and headaches.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) The SleepMed at-home sleep apnea test is used in direct patient care. Without access to this specific equipment the hospital would not be able to offer certain patient care and treatment for sleep apnea that would drive patients elsewhere and result in a loss of revenue to the Hospital.