Lovell’s sleep lab returns with cutting-edge technology

Fewer wires, more comfort and better sleep, right here in Lovell

If you’ve had a sleep study in the past and still remember being tangled in a web of wires, struggling to roll over or wondering how you were ever going to make it to the bathroom, it may be time to give it another try.

North Big Horn Hospital is once again offering in-house sleep studies following the reopening and upgrade of its sleep lab, bringing modern, more comfortable technology back to Lovell. The expanded service was celebrated with a ribbon cutting on December 4 and significantly improves both patient comfort and access to care.

“We’re live,” said Sandy Rissler, the lab’s Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT). “We are officially taking patients now.” Most major insurance plans have already been approved, with only a couple of smaller carriers still pending. “We are open to referrals,” she added.

The Lovell lab is currently the only sleep lab in Big Horn County. While Cody has a sleep lab, facilities in Powell and other surrounding communities no longer do, limiting access for many residents. Rissler noted that demand has grown sharply in recent years.

“There’s a very high need for sleep studies, especially after COVID. Scheduling across the region has been backed up,” she said.

Dr. Tom Cloward, a sleep medicine physician affiliated with Intermountain Health who interprets the studies and provides recommendations to local physicians, said COVID has played a significant role in increased referrals.

“Millions of patients who were previously healthy all of a sudden developed cardiopulmonary disease that they never had before,” Cloward said. “If you have problems breathing during the day, it’s going to be worse at night.” He added that sleep disorders often overlap with conditions such as high blood pressure, depression and stroke history.

Rissler holds the nationally recognized RPSGT credential, which requires extensive training and certification and is currently in short supply nationwide.

“RPSGTs are rare. They’re like gold in the sleep world,” she said. Her training included formal coursework, hundreds of required in-lab patient hours under certified technologists and sleep physicians and a rigorous national exam.

During each overnight study, Rissler remains on site, monitoring patients in real time and scoring data as events occur.

“It’s not as big of a process as people think,” she said, noting that many patients arrive anxious but leave surprised by how comfortable the experience feels. Cloward compared her role to a bedside nurse. “She knows the common worries patients have and how to solve them.”

One of the biggest improvements is the upgraded equipment. Older sleep studies relied on bundles of cables tethering patients to the bed. The new system uses compact, wireless technology that allows patients to move naturally and get up during the night without disconnecting equipment. “You’re not tethered to the bed anymore,” Rissler said.

The studies measure brain waves, breathing, oxygen levels, heart rhythm and leg movements, helping diagnose issues that range far beyond snoring.

“Uncontrolled high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, depression and restless legs can all be related to undiagnosed sleep apnea,” Rissler said. “If your body isn’t getting good oxygen, nothing works right.”

The lab accepts adult patients 18 and older and operates multiple nights each week, including weekends, to accommodate work schedules. Visitors touring the lab prior to the ribbon cutting frequently commented on its home-like environment, designed intentionally to help patients relax and sleep naturally. Future plans include adding pull-out beds for caretakers or spouses who need to stay overnight.

Fully funded by the hospital and approved by the board, the upgraded sleep lab represents a renewed commitment to providing advanced care locally.

“It’s cutting-edge technology,” Rissler said. “And it’s happening right here in Lovell.”

The lab’s message is clear: Fewer wires, more comfort and better sleep, right here in Lovell.