Q&A with Dr. Mark Rasmus, M.D., Medical Director of the NEW Everything Sleep Idaho
What was the inspiration behind Everything Sleep Idaho?
Due to financial reasons, and a separation from Intermountain Health, Saltzer Health clinic was forced to close its doors as of March 29, 2024. This decision was made at a corporate level without control or much foreknowledge of the local leadership and its healthcare providers.
Since its inception in 1961 by Dr. Joseph Saltzer, Saltzer Health had been a cornerstone of healthcare in the Treasure Valley, fostering enduring patient-doctor relationships that have spanned generations of Idaho families. Under the direction of Dr. Rasmus, Everything Sleep Idaho has been established to replicate and replace the personalized and expert sleep medicine that the now closed Saltzer Health used to provide the community.
While we are operating under a new name, we will provide the same level of care and trust with many of the providers you already know and feel comfortable with. And we will continue to be serving the Boise and Nampa regions of Idaho. Another reason that motivated the decision to reactivate the clinic under a new name was for the benefit of our patients and staff.
With over 10,000 patients receiving sleep medicine treatment at Saltzer Health, we felt impelled to continue serving the community, as there are few options for expert sleep care in the Treasure Valley. We also were motivated to ensure our loyal and hardworking staff did not lose their jobs in the midst of this transition. Therefore, Dr. Rasmus made the decision to reestablish the clinic and reopen within 30 days to serve the community and protect the continued employment of our staff.
What Improvements will Everything Sleep Idaho Provide?
Under new supervision and direction, Dr. Rasmus has seen the need for improvements to practice sleep medicine with a more efficient office system, more cost-effective contract services, and more practical and innovative solutions for treatment. Our goal is to provide customized care for each and every patient that walk through our door, with sufficient time needed to get to know our patients, their individual health history, and their preferences and specialized needs. We will not be providing a cookie-cutter approach to sleep medicine but treat each patient with respect and personalized attention they deserve.
Another goal of Dr. Rasmus is to improve administrative systems when it comes to scheduling appointments, billing, insurance submissions and follow-up care. He plans to improve on patient care with technical innovations, easier and faster scheduling, a more responsive and friendly administrative staff, and an expanded list of sleep health providers, so that your wait time for appointments will be reduced and solutions to your sleep disorders will be more personalized. When we examined wait times and administrative office systems, we first realized we were previously under-staffed which resulted in delay times for scheduling sleep studies, lack of front office support and delays in insurance reimbursements for our patients.
We have hired more staff, streamlined the business management side of the business, as well as being in the process of hiring more providers and more sleep technologists. With running a physician-owned practice comes the freedom to make needed changes for improved patient care and patient service by our knowledgeable and friendly office staff. While we have increased our efficiency, we have decreased our costs by streamlining and reorganizing the way we run our practice.
Why do you treat Sleep Disorders Exclusively?
Dr. Rasmus, found his passion for sleep medicine quite by accident. Mark had completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics through Albany Medical Center in New York, followed by a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at the University of Utah and a sleep medicine fellowship at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Rasmus is board certified in pediatrics, internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care and sleep medicine.
During his fellowship in pulmonary medicine, he discovered that sleep quality was interlinked with pulmonary, lung and heart health. Healthy sleep affects every aspect of a patient’s overall health.
“Treating patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea with positive airway pressure therapy is associated with reduced acute care visits and healthcare expenditures, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Every one-hour increase in PAP usage per night was associated with an 8% decrease in inpatient visits and a 4% decrease in overall acute care visits.”
– Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine study
The long-term benefits of a regular diet of quality sleep provides the following benefits:
- Healthcare Costs Savings
- Extended Life Expectancy
- Improved Mental Health
- Improved Focus and Functionality
- Improved Health and Decreased Comorbidly Risks
In addition to the potential health benefits of treating sleep disorder patients, pursuing sleep medicine provides benefits to its providers as well. The lifestyle of a Sleep Physician does not require on-call hours, many weekend or evening hours and allows for an improved work/life balance for our staff. Dr. Rasmus, married with two small children, realizes that schedule is a benefit for his family as well.
How does Everything Sleep Idaho contribute to the Idaho Community?
As an independent sleep clinic, we provide sleep studies (at home or in our sleep study facilities) at half the cost of local hospitals, which means a savings for insurance companies but also the patients cost of deductibles and co-pays.
We also serve the Idaho community with a devotion to improving the overall health in an area we love, we live, we work and we play. Idaho is known for mountainous landscapes, and vast swaths of protected wilderness and outdoor recreation areas. The capital, Boise, is set in the Rocky Mountain foothills and is bisected by the Boise River, which is popular for rafting and fishing. Idaho combines a rich heritage, friendly communities, and a taste of the American West. Much of what defines Idaho are the adventures found within its boundaries. From the glacial lakes in the panhandle to the lunar-like landscapes on the southern border and the slithering Snake River, these unmatched terrains entice explorers from across the world.
Our love for the community is manifested with sponsorships, community outreach and educational presentations. Dr. Rasmus has presented educational forums at local schools, healthcare facilities, on radio broadcasts, and local podcasts.
With the reopening of our clinic on April 2, 2024, we were able to save 25 employees’ jobs from the now closed Saltzer Health, as well as continued patronage of multiple local business, suppliers, subcontractors and further investments into the local economy. Small businesses often source goods and services from other local businesses, creating a network of supplier relationships. This fosters economic interdependence within the community and supports the growth of other local enterprises.
“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into the water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.”
– Dalai Lama
Why should you visit the new Everything Sleep Idaho?
“At Everything Sleep Idaho, we are dedicated to staying at the forefront of sleep medicine advancements. We offer comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options for a wide range of sleep disorders, including; sleep apnea, insomnia, RLS, narcolepsy and circadian rhythm disorders. We also believe in providing a compassionate and personalized approach to care, ensuring each patient receives the attention and support they need. Whether you are a current patient or are seeking sleep solutions for the first time, I encourage you to reach out to our practice. We are dedicated to helping you understand your sleep concerns and providing the resources you need to achieve a healthy night’s sleep.”
– Dr. Mark Rasmus, M.D.
Our passion for improving sleep health in this community remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to continuing to partner with you on your journey to restful nights and vibrant days.
