About Us
BACKGROUND
The modern science of sleep received its first major push in 1953 with the discovery of REM sleep. Since then, the field of sleep medicine has progressed in leaps and bounds. Clinical sleep medicine began in 1964 in Stanford, USA where the first Sleep Disorders Clinic was set up, with the capability to perform nocturnal polysomnography and multiple sleep latency testing. Over the last 30 years, major advances have been made in the understanding of sleep, circadian rhythms, parasomnias, insomnia, hypersomnia, sleep disordered breathing and bruxism. Expertise and capability for the diagnosis and effective treatment of these common disorders increased and the field grew into a fully-fledged, robust branch of medicine. In 2005, sleep medicine became a formally accredited medical specialty by the ACGME in the U.S, followed soon after by similar developments in Europe and Australasia, as it became clear that there was a critical need for countries to ensure that clinicians specializing in this increasingly complicated and multidisciplinary field were sufficiently trained and that sleep clinics and laboratories met the required standards in order to safeguard public health and wellbeing.
Sleep complaints are common in Singapore, with an estimated 30% of adult Singaporeans suffering from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) with 90% remaining undiagnosed. 20% of Singaporeans suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders. With increasing disease awareness among the public and the medical community, demand for sleep diagnostics and specialist care took off. Starting from SGH in 1987, sleep laboratories and clinical services expanded across the island and are now established in all public hospitals. They are staffed by sleep medicine specialists and technicians who typically have obtained an overseas board certification in sleep or completed a clinical sleep fellowship. In the private sector however, there are also increasing numbers of private sleep diagnostic service providers and clinicians with uncertain qualifications offering specialist sleep care, for which no practice requirements or limits currently exist. Thus, we believe that there is an urgent need for the formation of the Chapter of Sleep Medicine Physicians to help regulate and advance this field in Singapore.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CHAPTER OF SLEEP MEDICINE PHYSICIANS
- Provide advisory opinion on the training and credentialing requirements needed for Sleep Medicine Physicians
- Provide advisory opinion on the accreditation requirements for sleep laboratories and diagnostic sleep service providers.
- Provide input and expert opinion on matters related to sleep health and sleep disorders, as and when the need arises. This may include medico-legal enquiries from the Ministry of Health and other government agencies and organizations.
- Contribute to professional development and education.
MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
- Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore AND
- Certification such as the American Board of Sleep Medicine, or Master degree in Sleep Medicine from a University recognized by a local certification body or a body accredited by the local health authorities,
OR;
- Physicians who successfully completed a minimum of six months of full time (or equivalent) structured training in a Sleep Medicine or Sleep-related fellowship (such as Sleep Apnea Surgery, Sleep Orthodontics treatment) with documentation, in an accredited or recognized center as determined by a committee sanctioned by the chapter.
OR;
- (Grandfather Clause) At least 5 years of recognized practice in clinical sleep medicine relevant to the practitioner’s specialty supported in writing by institution or by personal documentation as such. Such practice may involve clinical or interventional work. Supporting documents and case logs may be requested and audits may be carried out. This clause will expire by 30 December 2022.
The Chapter held its Inaugural General Meeting on 10 November 2021, followed by the 1st Annual General Meeting on 31 May 2022.
