Before your appointment

1. Your doctor will fax us a referral form and we will contact you to book an appointment.
2. If you have done a sleep study in the past, we will first book a consultation with a sleep specialist via telemedicine at HGH Ambulatory Clinics, at the main campus. The sleep specialist will assess your condition and determine if you need to do another sleep study. The solution to help resolve ongoing issues or symptoms may also be a simple change to your current sleep therapy device.
3. If you have never done a sleep study, we will book an appointment directly for a polysomnogram test (PSG) at the HGH Trillium Building in Hawkesbury.

What is a polysomnogram (PSG)?

A PSG is a sleep study test performed overnight. It records your brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, body movement and other signs.

Do I need to prepare for a sleep study?

There is no need for a special preparation. You should simply follow your nightly routine: have dinner at your usual time and keep the same activities. Keeping your usual routine will give more accurate results.

What should I bring for the overnight sleep study?

• Valid Health card
• List of all your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and herbal medicines
• Your usual sleepwear
• Your own pillows and blanket, if you prefer, although each room if well supplied with bed linens
• Personal hygiene supplies for the morning (toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.)

When you arrive at the Sleep Lab

• The test is performed overnight. We schedule patients to arrive between 9:30 pm and 10:30 pm. We will inform you of your arrival time when we book your sleep study.
• A technician will greet you; review your file, including your list of medication and health history.
• You will fill out the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The ESS is a very short questionnaire intended to measure daytime sleepiness and is helpful in diagnosing sleep disorders.
• The technician will then apply monitors like electrodes to your scalp and other body parts. They will measure your body activity as you sleep.

Sleeping in the Lab

• We ask you to turn your cell phone and mobile devices off. This will help you fall asleep faster.
• Our sleep lab features six private bedrooms. Each bedroom is equipped with a double bed, including bed linen, comforter and three pillows.
• Although the idea of sleeping comfortably outside one’s own bedroom and hooked up to wires may feel strange, most people are surprised to learn that they slept more than they realized.
• Electrodes and a camera are used to monitor patients through the night.
• In most cases, patients get enough sleep to obtain enough data to complete the study.

Waking up in the Lab

• At approximately 5:00 am, the technician will wake you up and remove the monitors and electrodes. If you need to wake up earlier, please inform the technician the night before.
• We will supply you with a facecloth, but there are no facilities to shower.

Test results

• The technician cannot give you test results. A sleep specialist will review the results of your sleep study within 4 to 6 weeks.
  We will book an appointment for you with the sleep specialist via telemedicine at HGH Ambulatory Clinics.
• Depending on the test results, repeat testing or treatment could be ordered. The sleep specialist will send your results to your family physician.

The team

• Registered Polysomnography Technicians
• Board Certified Sleep Specialist

Fees

Ontario: OHIP covers the in-lab sleep study and medical consultations. You need a valid health card.

Québec: RAMQ does not cover the cost of any sleep study. However patients with private insurance may be reimbursed depending on their insurance policy. Québec patients are required to pay a fee prior to their test. Please contact us to inquire about rates.

Contact Information

Sleep Lab Location
1062 Ghislain Street (Trillium Building)
Suite 308
Hawkesbury, ON K6A 3B2

Telephone : 613-632-1697
Fax: 1-855-589-4400

Referring a patient to the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital Sleep Lab

Medical Specialist

• Dr. Sunil Bhalla

Referral Form

To refer a patient, please download, fill out and fax the referral form to 1-855-589-4400.

• Sleep Lab Referral Form (PDF)

The Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) provides more than 40 specialized medical clinics for residents of Prescott-Russell and surrounding region. For a list of clinics, departments and services, visit Refer a patient.