March 25th, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, IL—C U Sleep, the Champaign sleep laboratory owned by Christie Clinic, was recently granted full accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

AASM accreditation is the prestigious "gold standard" to which all sleep centers aspire, and it indicates top-quality sleep services. Facilities interested in accreditation must submit a detailed application to the AASM. If the application demonstrates substantial compliance with published AASM standards, the national organization then sends an inspector to review policies, records, and cases, and to interview key staff about the operation. Only if the site visitor can verify that the sleep center consistently adheres to the high standards set by the AASM, would the AASM board grant full accreditation.

One thing the AASM requires is that the sleep laboratory must be directed by a board-certified sleep specialist. At C U Sleep, that director is Salman Q. Sheikh, MD. Dr. Sheikh earned his sleep boards not once, but twice—in 2005 from the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and again in 2007 from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Sheikh is pleased with the outcome of the accreditation process: "I'm very proud of the sleep laboratory. Accreditation has been a long and difficult process, but well worth it. We want to make sure that our sleep disorders center is the very best it can possibly be, and that our patients receive world-class care."

Over 1,000 sleep laboratories are accredited by the AASM, but C U Sleep is the only one located in the city of Champaign. C U Sleep's term of accreditation lasts five years.

According to the AASM web site (www.aasmnet.org), "The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is the only professional society that is dedicated exclusively to the medical subspecialty of sleep medicine. As the leading voice in the field of sleep medicine, the AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in health care, education and research."

Christie Clinic has provided health care to the residents of central Illinois for over 75 years. It is the oldest multi-specialty medical group practice in central Illinois. Christie Clinic has clinics on University Avenue and Windsor Road in Champaign; C U Sleep in Champaign; satellite clinics in Danville, Mahomet, Rantoul, and Tuscola; Convenient Care at Champaign-Urbana County Market locations; and is planning an additional facility in Urbana. For more information about Christie Clinic, call 217-366-1200, or go to http://www.christieclinic.com

Tags: c u sleep, salman q. sheikh, sleep laboratory, american academy of sleep medicine