Fusion Sleep Targets Sleep Apnea in the Trucking Industry
ATLANTA – With approximately 28 percent of drivers in the trucking industry suffering from Sleep Apnea in the US, Fusion Sleep, one of the nation’s leaders in the Sleep Medicine field, announced at the 2010 ITLC/NAFC Conference that it has joined the trucking industry in an effort to reduce the effects and escalating costs of Sleep Apnea.
Sleep Apnea, or any one of over 70 sleep disorders, are very costly diseases when left untreated, causing deteriorating health and increased hospitalizations, absenteeism and lowered productivity. By diagnosing and treating Sleep Apnea among its drivers, fleets have the potential to reduce their healthcare spend by nearly 50 percent for the affected drivers, reduce risks and increase savings in performance-related line items.
As more attention is being placed on ‘dynamic’ safety rating structures, such as CSA 2010, anything fleets can do to reduce driver fatigue and improve safety ratings are key to reducing costs and maintaining a competitive advantage and should be implemented, said trucking industry veteran Mitch Poole, Chief Operating Officer of the Reznick Group and National Accounting and Finance Council (NAFC) Board of Directors member.
“Sleep Disorders are preventable and treatable diseases. Diagnosis and treatment requires in-depth testing and medical care plans which account for each individual’s symptoms and conditions,” said Dr. Jeffrey Durmer, Chief Medical Officer of Fusion Sleep. “Additionally, achieving quality sleep can reduce or reverse additional serious health conditions, including Obesity, High Blood Pressure, Heart Attacks, Strokes and Type II Diabetes.”
Fusion Sleep has conducted a clinical trial over the past 12 months with one of the leading trucking fleets in North America in order to develop and road test a comprehensive treatment program for Sleep Disorders tailored to the needs of the industry.
Previous studies have shown that approximately 70 percent of a trucking company's injury/fatal crash costs have been traced back to untreated Sleep Disorders. With more than three million drivers on the road, the trucking industry has an urgent need to diagnose and treat Sleep Disorders in order to save lives, reduce accidents and decrease the related costs.
About Fusion Sleep
Fusion Sleep is the provider of the only comprehensive sleep medicine program that combines extensive professional expertise in the field of Sleep Medicine with multiple treatment options and a unique delivery model for patients in the transportation industry and other employers who make safety a priority in their business. Programs are focused on removing the risk of sleep and fatigue problems in the workforce. Based in Atlanta, Ga., Fusion Sleep’s program is a fusion of Sleep Technology, Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine designed to deliver exemplary medical care for problems and conditions that impact sleep quality, quantity and daytime function. Fusion Sleep supports more than 7,000 patients and is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). For more information, visit www.sleep4safety.com <http://www.sleep4safety.com> or call 1.888.505.0280.