Improving Obstructive Sleep Apnea Support in Rural Primary Care: Enhancing Patient Resources and Provider Tools

Rustad, John L

Item

Improving Obstructive Sleep Apnea Support in Rural Primary Care: Enhancing Patient Resources and Provider Tools

Rustad, John L

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent but underdiagnosed condition, particularly in rural populations with limited access to specialist care. This project aims to enhance OSA identification and management in a rural Vermont clinic by implementing an integrated patient education and screening initiative. Key interventions include a patient information pamphlet, a standardized screening tool, and a referral pathway to streamline diagnosis and treatment. Provider feedback highlighted the benefits of these resources in improving patient awareness, screening accuracy, and referral efficiency.