Occupational Sleep Medicine

TRACK: OEM Clinical Practice

Christopher L. Drake, PhD, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
Stefanos N. Kales, MD, MPH, FACP, FACOEM, Harvard School of Public Health/Cambridge Health Alliance, Boston, MA
Hans P. A. Van Dongen, PhD, Washington State University, Spokane, WA

Sleep disorders and medical conditions may cause sleepiness interfering with job performance. Fatigue also occurs in occupational settings due to extended work hours and/or circadian issues (night/ shift work or travel across time zones). Occupational health professionals in diverse settings are confronted with these issues, but no formal educational programs cover this rapidly developing area of
occupational sleep medicine. For the last three years, our experienced faculty has put on well-received occupational courses at the international sleep meeting (APSS) providing a comprehensive and practical overview. This session is directed towards the needs of occupational health clinicians: basic review of chronobiology; sleep/wake and alertness regulation and circadian principles; review of shift work disorder, interactions between work schedules, fatigue, sleep, and health; countermeasures; and obstructive sleep apnea in occupational settings (risks, screening, and management) with a focus on transportation. This session may be of particular interest to residents and recent graduates.