Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Sleep Program

Overview

SleepingSleep disorders involve any difficulties related to sleeping, including excessive daytime sleepiness (falling asleep at inappropriate times), insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep), or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep. One of the most common sleep disorders is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This condition is characterized by episodes where a person's breathing stops while sleeping. In normal conditions, the muscles of the upper part of the throat keep this passage open to allow air to flow into the lungs. These muscles usually relax during sleep, but the passage remains open enough to permit the flow of air. Some individuals have a narrower passage, and during sleep, relaxation of these muscles causes the passage to close, and air cannot get into the lungs. Fortunately, after a variable amount of time, a brief awakening occurs and the throat reopens. The process can occur from a few to over 500 times per night. The frequent brief awakenings (usually not remembered) cause daytime sleepiness.. Sleep apnea can also cause or worsen elevated blood pressure or some forms of heart failure.

Location & Clinic Timings

University:

  • Sleep Clinic at Shands: Internal Medicine Clinic located on the first floor of Shands. The clinics are held Tuesday afternoons.
  • Sleep studies: Alachua General Hospital on SW 2nd Avenue, Gainesville.
    This is a state of the art 8 bed sleep disorders center that has been accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Gainesville’s only accredited sleep center). The sleep center features motel like rooms to allow the patient to feel more comfortable.

Malcom Randall VAMC:

  • Sleep Clinic at VA Hospital : Medical Clinic at A450. The clinics are held every Thursday from 1pm to 3:30pm.
  • Sleep studies are performed in a two bed sleep laboratory on the fifth floor.

How to make an Appointment

  • New Patient Appointment: Kindly fax your referrals to 352.265.0673
  • (Attention: Nikki) Contact Nikki Bass at 352.265.0111 x 43916
  • Return Patient Appointment: Contact Joyce Barnett at 352.376.1611 x 5616
  • Expedited requests from physicians – contact Dr. Berry personally

Medical Professionals

  • Dr. Richard Berry, M.D., DABSM. Director Sleep program (University and VA)
  • Dr. Rahul Kakkar, M.D. (University and VA)
  • Dr. Craig Foster, M.D. (VA)
  • Lorrie Jacobs, ARNP, Nurse Practitioner Clinical Coordinator, Sleep Program (VA)

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