Manitoba Health’s Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force has launched a new process for individuals currently waiting for diagnostic sleep testing to find out if they are eligible for an in-home alternative.
The province has an agreement with Cerebra Medical Ltd. to provide in-home sleep diagnostic tests for up to 1,000 patients. The test records brain waves, heartbeats, breathing and other information used to diagnose sleep disorders. More than 8,000 Manitobans are currently waiting for sleep tests, which were previously only available by attending a sleep lab in person.
The in-home test is available to eligible people at no cost.
Sleep disorders and a lack of proper sleep can have a wide range of effects on health and well-being. Undiagnosed sleep disorders can increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease.
Cerebra is a Winnipeg-based health technology company focused on improving access to advanced technology for sleep assessment and diagnosis. This agreement is a short-term solution to build capacity in Manitoba to deal with the backlog of sleep tests.
People waiting for a sleep study can review eligibility criteria at gov.mb.ca. Applicants can then complete an e-form online or call 1-888-600-0108 to move forward. Individuals may also be referred by a primary care provider.
