Reid ENT Inspire ® Therapy
Inspire Patient Journey at Reid Health
The Inspire Therapy patient journey is an easy, five-step process. Patients will be cared for by a collaborative team, including their primary care physician; ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist; and a sleep or pulmonary specialist. The goal of this collaborative care partnership is to thoroughly review your unique sleep behaviors to ensure an effective solution that will result in a restful night's sleep.
Step 1: Initial appointment with Reid ENT
The first step is to meet with Reid ENT to determine if Inspire is right for you. This initial consult will include a review of previously conducted sleep studies with an ENT specialist. If a sleep study hasn't been conducted in more than two years, insurance might require an additional study. This will be discussed during your consultation. The consultation also serves as an opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about the process or procedure.
Step 2: Airway exam
After determining you're a good candidate for Inspire, your specialist will arrange for you to have an airway exam. This exam is routine and lasts about 20 minutes. During the exam, a provider will look inside your airway with a small camera to ensure Inspire will be the right treatment for you.
Step 3: The day of your procedure
You'll coordinate your procedure with Reid Outpatient Surgery and Endoscopy (ROSE). They'll help you schedule your procedure and ensure you feel prepared and have all your questions answered. The outpatient procedure is minimally invasive, requiring only two small incisions at the base of the chin and the chest. The procedure only takes about two hours, and patients often leave the same day. Patients are even able to return to non-strenuous activity after seven days.
Step 4: The device is activated
About a month after your procedure, you'll return to your doctor's office where you'll receive the Inspire Sleep Remote and further instruction on how to activate the device. The device will can be customized to match your specific sleep schedule. You'll use the monitor at this time to determine if the settings are the right fit for you.
Step 5: Follow-up sleep study
A follow-up sleep study will be conducted to determine if any adjustments are needed to your device settings.
FAQs about Inspire Therapy
How much does Inspire cost?
Inspire is reimbursed by most major insurance providers -- including Medicare -- either as a covered policy or approved on an individual basis. Your doctor and the insurance team at Inspire will work with you for approval.
What is the Inspire procedure like?
Inspire is inserted under the skin in an outpatient procedure that takes two to three hours. Most patients go home the same day.
What does Inspire feel like?
You should feel a mild sensation from the stimulation when the device is turned on. Typically, patients feel a tingling sensation or mild contraction in their tongue muscles. The stimulation is delayed for a period of time while you fall asleep. The stimulation is gentle and designed to move the tongue forward without disturbing your sleep.
What is the typical outcome after Inspire is implanted?
One-year STAR clinical trial results were published in the Jan. 9, 2014, edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, showing patients using Inspire therapy had significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures. These significant reductions and improvements were sustained during a five-year follow-up period.
As of October 2020, there had been more than 100 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire therapy. Those publications showed patients using Inspire therapy in real-world, clinical-practice settings experienced significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures, consistent with those seen in the STAR clinical trial.
Notable outcomes of Inspire include:
- 90% of bed partners reported no snoring or soft snoring.
- 79% reduction in sleep apnea events
- 94% of people are satisfied with Inspire.
- 96% of Inspire patients say Inspire is better than CPAP and would recommend Inspire to others.
How do I get started with Inspire therapy at Reid ENT?
Dr. Sidney Jiang and Dr. Thomas Jetmore of Reid Health ENT provide expert care for the evaluation and implantation of the Inspire device. Our providers have the experience and skill to complete your procedure and get you back to the well-rested and rewarding life you deserve. Call (765) 966-1600 or click here to request an appointment with Reid Health ENT and start your journey back to restful sleep.
