Home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) performed by community providers was added to the services requiring accreditation by the Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP) in September 2020 after the Ministry of Health led a detailed review of the service delivery environment for the provision of sleep medicine in British Columbia.
The review revealed a provincial need for the diagnostic capacity that home-based, overnight obstructive sleep apnea testing facilities provide and HSAT facilities were invited to apply for accreditation. To date, 179 facilities have achieved provisional accreditation and are currently going through the full accreditation process.
As of June 2, 2021, HSAT can only be performed at an accredited facility. A list of all accredited facilities can be found on the ºÚÁÏÉç website.
The Ministry of Health has created a for home sleep apnea testing form. This requisition form must be used for all referrals for testing at a HSAT facility. Registrants must ensure that patients meet testing eligibility criteria.
Other requisitions, verbal and walk-in referrals are no longer accepted at HSAT facilities. The Ministry of Health has also published guidelines for to assist health-care providers in the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with suspected OSA.