Joplin, MO – Freeman Health System is now offering Inspire Therapy, an innovative method obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for those who cannot use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.  Freeman is the first and only system within a 70-mile radius of Joplin to offer Inspire.

OSA affects 22 million Americans.  When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, risk for obesity, stroke, heart attack and even death.  It occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain.  The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then falls back to sleep.  This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep.

The Inspire team at Freeman includes Dr. Grant Pierson (pulmonology specialist) and Dr. Jason Maxfield (sleep medicine specialist) referring patients to Dr. Kent McIntire (ear, nose and throat specialist).  The team works together to evaluate and treat a patient’s OSA.  Implantation of the device is done by a surgeon while clinic management is done by Drs. Pierson and/or Maxfield.  

“Freeman is fortunate to have three excellent physicians collaborating in a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to treat poor sleep for the best therapy outcomes,” said Paula Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Good sleep improves cognition, concentration, productivity and performance.  It can also maximize problem-solving skills and enhance memory.  If you’ve ever missed a few of hours sleep, you know it can make you feel like you’re running on empty. This is why Freeman invested in this breakthrough sleep therapy called Inspire.”

Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea.  Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, enabling oxygen to flow naturally.  The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up.

The safety and efficacy of Inspire was evaluated during the STAR clinical trial.  Five-year STAR trial outcomes show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures.  There have been over 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire.  These publications show results consistent with those seen in the STAR trial.  Inspire was also approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013.  

Inspire works within the body while sleeping.  Benefits include:

• It is a simple outpatient procedure
• There is fast recovery time
• It has proven results
• There’s control with a hand-held remote
• It is broadly covered by insurance

“In our practice, we see many patients who have stopped using or are unable to tolerate CPAP,” said Dr. Grant Pierson, Freeman pulmonologist.  “Inspire represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea, and puts Freeman in the forefront of sleep therapy and technology.”

Dr. Jason Maxfield adds, “We are excited to offer this promising therapy to our patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are unable to use CPAP treatment.”

To learn more about Freeman Ear, Nose and Throat or Freeman Pulmonology or Freeman Sleep Center, visit freemanhealth.com/ent.  To get started, schedule an appointment today by calling Dr. Kent McIntire at 417.347.6767.  To learn more about the Inspire therapy at Freeman, also visit freemanhealth.com/lung and freemanhealth.com/sleep.