An estimated 50-70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea, with diagnosis and treatment costs in the billions. Additional impacts stem from related medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, COPD and mental illness.

What’s more, sleep-related problems like fatigue and sleep deprivation affect everyone’s safety. Researchers have cited sleep-related factors in recent high-profile accidents including two commuter train crashes and the fatal naval accidents involving the McCain and the Fitzgerald, not to mention thousands of drowsy driving crashes annually, says Grace Denault, instructor for the University of Delaware’s Essentials of Clinical Sleep Health and Education online course and sleep educator at the Academy of Sleep and Wellness.

According to Denault, the role of clinical sleep educator is important in the treatment of sleep problems. These educators help patients understand how their sleep conditions develop and progress, how the controllable risk factors affect their health, the signs and symptoms of disease progression, and the role of prescribed therapy and medications.

UD’s Essentials of Clinical Sleep Health and Education online course focuses on the field of treating sleep disorders by introducing healthcare professionals to the specialty of sleep medicine and preparing them to serve as clinical sleep educators. The seven-week, 100-percent-online course begins Sept. 10.

Employment opportunities for clinical sleep educators exist beyond the traditional sleep center and may include occupational health, mental health, pulmonary, neurology, primary care, pediatrics, geriatrics, dental offices, home medical equipment companies and school nursing. Professionals in any of these areas are likely to have patients with comorbid sleep disorders and would benefit from education in sleep medicine, adds Denault.

Course participants learn about aspects of normal and abnormal sleep, clinical evaluation, and testing and treatment of sleep disorders. Patient and family communication and education are important components of the curriculum. Participants complete the course at their own pace in seven weeks. Online learning components include guided lectures, case presentations and quizzes.

The course is also designed to help participants prepare for the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) Certificate in Clinical Sleep Health (CCSH) exam. Most licensed healthcare professionals are eligible to take the exam.

Continuing education credits are awarded for program completion and may be applicable to professionals in a variety of fields. They include Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for physicians, nursing contact hours, Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credits, and Continuing Education Credits (CECs) through the American Association of Sleep Technologists.

Essentials of Clinical Sleep Health and Education is offered through a partnership between the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies and the Academy of Sleep and Wellness, affiliated with Delaware Sleep Disorder Centers.

Prospective students can learn more about the program at two upcoming information sessions, at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 19, in Wilmington or an online virtual information session at 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 2, at 4 p.m.

For more information about the program or the free information sessions, visit http://www.pcs.udel.edu/clinical-sleep-health, call 302-831-7600 or write to continuing-ed@udel.edu.