POTSDAM – In addition to being certified with the American Board of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) for internal medicine and pulmonary disease, Pulmonologist Magendra Thakur, has also met ABIM standards for sleep medicine.

The certification process with ABIM is extensive and requires a physician to complete a 12-month fellowship, training, and pass an arduous test, which ultimately denotes a higher level of care and an advanced level of credibility.

Dr. Thakur is the only pulmonologist north of Watertown and West of Plattsburgh to achieve this level of certification.

“Our patients deserve the very best and it’s encouraging to hear that more and more insurance companies are requiring this level of certification. Sleep disorders can often become life threatening; it’s critical that individuals get screened and discuss symptoms with their providers,” said Dr. Thakur.

Sleep medicine is the study of sleep disorders, which includes Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, snoring, high blood pressure, excessive tiredness, impotence, headaches, cardiac problems, and restless leg syndrome.

Sleep studies at Canton-Potsdam Hospital are performed in a comfortable, home-like environment by a registered nurse or respiratory therapists with special training in sleep disorders.

Following the sleep study, the polysomnogram is evaluated by a registered polysmonographic technologist and reviewed by Dr. Thakur.

Based on the data of the sleep study, a diagnosis is reached and a treatment plan can be created and carried out by the patient’s physician or Dr. Thakur.

Individuals seeking more information about Sleep Lab services at Canton-Potsdam Hospital can call 268-0642 or visit the website at cphospital.org for a complete list of available services.