Paper Example on Sleep Apnea: A Serious Sleep Disorder Requiring Medical Attention

Introduction

Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when the upper airway collapses during sleep. The repetitive obstruction of the airway causes breathing to start and repeatedly stop during sleep. There are several types of sleep disorder, such as obstructive, central, and complex sleep apnea. The common complications of sleep apnea include daytime fatigue, heart problems, high blood pressure, among others. The sleep disorder is a serious health condition that requires immediate medical attention. Therapy measures are recommended to reduce the possible complications that may arise if the condition worsens. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a therapy that is used to treat sleep apnea. CPAP is an effective therapy, but alarmingly the compliance rates are low. The paper aims to discuss potential intervention measures to improve compliance of CPAP therapy.

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CPAP is the first-choice treatment for patients suffering from moderate to severe sleep apnea. The therapy is a non-surgical treatment that is important in reverting respiration events to normalcy and treating sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring. Patients are advised to use CPAP when sleeping to open the obstructed airways. CPAP treatment routines should be taken at frequencies of at least four hours of sleep and a minimum of five nights per week. The adherence levels are dismal, and many cases of relapse have occurred due to non-adherent and discontinuation of the treatment therapy. Sleep apnea returns whenever treatment is stopped and thus, the importance of strict compliance to CPAP therapy. There are risks of non-compliance to the treatment as patients who discontinue the treatment experience increased morning heart rates, blood pressure, and a significant decrease in endothelial function. Patients must ensure total compliance with their therapy to ensure smooth and immediate recovery.

Business Plan

Homecare Dimensions is a healthcare organization that specializes in offering wound care treatment and providing durable medical equipment. The respiratory department provides health care treatment to patients with various conditions such as sleep apnea. The department offers CPAP therapy to patients suffering from sleep disorders. Respiratory therapists recommend the use of ResMed equipment and masks as the s effective option of treating sleep apnea. The company offers a wide range of CPAP products and equipment such as oral appliances and humidifiers. The organization is seeking to institute measures that are aimed at improving adherence to CPAP treatment.

The company requires a comprehensive growth strategy plan that will ensure long-term success. A concrete business plan envisions the future operations of the company and provides ways of increasing the chances of success. A growth plan consists of several vital steps that guide the activities of a business. The crucial first step is to establish a value proposition that sets the firm apart from the competition. The company's value proposition is to compete on price, and it does this by offering CPAP equipment at reasonably affordable prices. Providing the ResMed equipment and masks at an affordable price will enhance their access among patients and thus boost the adherence to CPAP treatment. Information is vital if the business is to actualize the growth strategy. The company needs to have adequate information in several key areas. Issues such as the reasons for non-adherence and interventions to increase compliance should be addressed in the business plan.

Non-adherence to CPAP

Compliance to CPAP therapy can be complicated by several factors, such as mask related issues. The level of patients' tolerance and adherence to the treatment can be negatively affected by mask problems that cause discomfort and thus leading to discontinuation of therapy. Sleep technologists must be aware of the complaints and issues that negatively impact on the compliance to CPAP treatment. Identifying risks for non-compliance is vital in addressing measures of enhancing adherence to therapy (Brooks, 2017). Patients often complain of being allergic to the CPAP mask, thus making it uncomfortable to put on, and therefore, it becomes difficult to get used to wearing it. Some patients find it hard to tolerate the pumped air from the mask, and this may interfere with sleeping patterns while wearing the CPAP mask. Other complaints include patients experiencing a running nose and a dry mouth after wearing the mask. Continually removing the mask during sleep makes it uncomfortable for patients, and this can affect their adherence to the therapy.

Boosting CPAP Compliance

Sleep technologists should provide patients with adequate information to make them comfortable with CPAP treatment. Well informed patients tend to be comfortable with the therapy process, and thus their adherence rates are usually higher than non-informed ones. Educating patients about the aspects of the CPAP machine and its effectiveness in treating sleep apnea is crucial (Pruitt, 2008). The patients should be made aware of the risks of stopping the treatment and the adverse complications that may arise if their condition is not treated. Sensitization about the CPAP therapy increases the likelihood of adherence to the treatment plan, and thus, patients can be motivated to stick with the mask during the difficult transition periods.

Most of the complaints are as a result of patients using the wrong kind of masks. The patient must be informed beforehand of the types of masks options that are available. The different types of masks include the nasal pillows, the full-face, and the nasal masks. The nasal pillows rest below the nose at the opening of the nostrils, and they do not obstruct the patient's vision. The full-face masks cover the nose and mouth while the nasal masks cover the nose only. Each type of masks has its pros and cons, and thus patients should choose the best option that will be comfortable to them. Choosing the right mask can lessen the trouble of compliance with CPAP treatment. The respiratory department aims to provide experts assistance to patients on the selection of appropriate masks and machines.

Financial Projection

The financial projection of the business plan will include profit and loss statements, sales forecast, cash flow statements, and expenses estimation (Richards, 2019). The sales forecast should be broken down to include a number of CPAP equipment and masks expected to be sold and their price points. The expenses budget will detail the operational costs that the company will incur. The data obtained from the sales forecast and the expenses budget will be used to project the profit and loss statements.

The following is a sample of the sales forecasts using a graph.

The graph shows the expected quarterly sales in the following financial year. Steady growth in sales forecasts is anticipated as the patients have become more sensitized on the effectiveness of CPAP treatment. The company is thus projecting to have an increase in sales of CPAP machines and appliances.

References

Brooks, R. (2017, September 5). 8 Tips to Increase CPAP Adherence in Sleep Apnea Patients. Retrieved from https://www.aastweb.org/blog/8-tips-to-increase-cpap-adherence-in-sleep-apnea-patients

Pruitt, B. (2008, October 1). Top 10 Practices to Increase CPAP Compliance. Retrieved from Sleep Review: http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2008/10/top-10-practices-to-increase-cpap-compliance/

Richards, D. (2019, April 13). Writing a Business Plan-Financial Projections. Retrieved from The Balance: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/writing-a-business-plan-financial-projections-1200842