In Victoria there are two methods assessing troublesome snoring.  Snoring is essentially obstructed breathing, which is a medical problem. A reliable accurate form of assessment needed.  Once the problem has been objectively identified and quantified, the most likely effective treatment option becomes evident. 

Method 1 – Conventional approach

This process often takes several months but is covered by the provincial medical services plan (MSP). 

Bring your snoring concerns to the attention of your family doctor.  The GP may refer you on to a specialist doctor called a Respirologist.  Your GP may arrange for a simple test called “overnight oximetry”.  This test monitors and records blood oxygen saturation while you sleep.  The test is offered at no cost through the Oximetry Clinic at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.  The data is interpreted by a specialist and reported to your family doctor.  This test is of somewhat limited value and unvalidated.  Nonetheless it is recognized by the Province to exclude significant sleep apnea in the asymptomatic patient.  See BCMA guidelines.

If further evaluation is required or oximetry in inconclusive, a labour intensive overnight stay in a sleep laboratory may be required.

The Respirologist will assess you and likely request a test to assess the situation.  The Respirologists are the only doctors able to refer patients to the local sleep laboratory for overnight observation.  To learn more about the sleep lab and polysomnography (the actual name for the sleep test) visit here Vancouver Island Health Authority. There is only one sleep lab on the Island and is located at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria

Occasionally the physician is confident to make a diagnosis based upon the patient interview, exam, and only the oximetry data.  (S)he may then prescribe treatment without doing the full sleep study.

Method 2 – with Island Sleep Health

This method usually takes a few weeks from our first meeting until treatment begins.  Our services are not covered by MSP and you are responsible for the cost ($ 175.00).

Phone us to make an appointment: (250) 592-7378.  You DO NOT need a referral from your Physician.

We will have you in to discuss your situation and ask you to complete a special Questionnaire.  We will review the nonsurgical treatments that we provide for treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  Your snoring will be assessed by doing a test that can be done in your own bed.  It incorporates overnight oximetry but is more detailed as it also monitors:

• snoring noise (pattern and intensity),
• body position,
• and most important of all, breathing pattern.

This monitoring device is called the REMMERS SLEEP RECORDER.  To learn more about the recorder and how it compares with polysomnography.

When completed the test results and Questionnaire are sent to our Medical Director for his opinion.   Our Medical Director is a Respirologist and is accredited by the Diagnostic Accreditation Program of the BCMA.  Once we get the test results - a copy is provided to you and the data explained.  Should you decide to pursue treatment you will need a prescription.  Your family doctor can do this for you as the groundwork has been done.

Regardless of which method you are assessed - a prescription from your Physician is required before treatment can be provided. Similarly, regardless of assessment method the cost of treatment is not covered by the MSP, however many supplemental insurance and benefit plans pay the majority of the expense. 

The cost of the initial assessment peformed by Island Sleep Health is deducted from the cost of your treatment.