June 7, 2023
Manitoba Government Invests Nearly $1.8 Million in Long-Term System Capacity with Sleep Disorder Centre Agreement
– – –New Agreement to Expand Staff, Add Equipment Builds Capacity, Reduce Backlogs: Gordon
The Manitoba government has approved a new agreement with the Sleep Disorder Centre (SDC) at Misericordia Hospital to expand staff and add equipment to reduce sleep study backlogs and increase patient volume by 200 per month over the next two years, Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced today.
“We are healing the health-care system and getting Manitobans the care they need,” said Gordon. “The quality of our sleep has a significant impact on our well-being and health, with thousands of Manitobans affected. A new agreement with the Sleep Disorder Centre aligns with our government’s commitment to building long-term system resilience into our health system.”
The SDC agreement is a nearly $1.8-million initiative funded by the Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force (DSRTF) that will expand the SDC team and add equipment such as sleep machines to build capacity to reduce sleep study backlogs and create long-term system resilience. The agreement includes implementing an at-home sleep study program to provide patients with more options.
Undiagnosed sleep disorders can increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease. More complex cases or cases of rare sleep disorders will continue to be referred to the SDC for overnight, in-lab observed testing.
The current waitlist for sleep diagnosis is unable to be accurately defined by the DSRTF as that information is held exclusively by the SDC, the minister noted, adding that it is expected to be several thousand Manitobans waiting for testing. As a part of the agreement, the SDC will be required to share waitlist information with the task force, to improve co-ordination of patients through central intake.
In addition to building capacity at the SDC and to provide Manitobans with a number of options to get the care they need faster, the minister noted the task force is also expanding an interim partnership agreement with Cerebra Medical. This agreement offers patients comprehensive, convenient and timely access to at-home testing, diagnosis, treatment planning and care—at no cost to them.
Manitobans who receive their sleep study and treatment planning from the SDC or from Cerebra Medical qualify for the Manitoba government’s continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) program therapy if required.
“We are pleased to extend our agreement with providers such as the SDC and Cerebra Medical to expand diagnostic and surgical care options for patients as we reduce wait times as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Peter MacDonald, chair, Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force steering committee. “The Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force puts patient care first through permanent measures that are expanding and making lasting improvements to our public health system and innovative partnerships.”
The Manitoba government established the DSRTF in late 2021 to address waitlists for diagnostic and surgical procedures, and other related services affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported by experts from across Canada, the team of respected local health-care professionals identify and implement short- and long-term solutions to improve surgical and diagnostic waitlists and make overall lasting improvements to Manitoba’s health-care system.
For more information about the DSRTF, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/dsrecovery.
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