Since 2006, Shore Medical Center has cared for adults with sleep disorders at its Center for Sleep Medicine, and now, through the generosity of our donors, we’ve expanded services to include pediatric sleep medicine. Through a new partnership with Advantage Sleep Centers, we’re helping children ages 3 and up get the rest they need for healthy growth, learning, and development.
“Sleep medicine is an important service line to offer our community because poor sleep impacts so many systems in the body,” says Jennifer S. Pesce, PT, DPT, Administrative Director of Rehabilitation, Sleep Lab and Cardiopulmonary Rehab. “It affects your heart, lungs, and brain. If you’re not sleeping well, your health suffers in ways you might not even realize.”
Children with untreated sleep disorders are at risk for serious issues, including poor academic performance, weight gain, behavioral challenges, and developmental delays. But with accurate diagnosis and treatment, often beginning with a sleep study, those outcomes can dramatically improve. One recent success story at Shore involved an 8-year-old whose chronic sleep disruptions were caused by sleep apnea due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids. After they were removed, “he’s now thriving,” Pesce shares.
Advantage Sleep Centers brings expertise in pediatric sleep medicine, making them the ideal partner for Shore. “Up to 50 percent of kids experience sleep problems—things like daytime sleepiness, irritability, learning difficulties,” Pesce explains. “It’s important to identify and treat these issues early before they start affecting a child’s development and quality of life.”
With board-certified sleep technicians and advanced in-lab monitoring at 710 Centre Street in Somers Point, the program ensures patients of all ages receive accurate diagnoses. “When you do an in-lab study, you’re monitored visually as well as electronically,” Pesce says. “The techs can see restlessness, abnormal movements—things that aren’t always captured at home.”
Since launching the new partnership March 3, Shore has seen a dramatic increase in demand. “We’ve had over 320 referrals and doubled the number of studies we typically do each month. That tells you there’s been a big education shift among physicians and more awareness among patients.”
The Center for Sleep Medicine at Shore supports patients not just through diagnosis but throughout treatment and follow-up care. If a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine is needed, patients are personally fitted and trained—not just sent a box.
“There’s a real difference in quality of care,” Pesce says. “They’re with you from start to finish.”
Pesce says CPAP machines have come a long way—they’re quieter, smaller, more comfortable, and deliver gentle, warm, moist air that helps users breathe through the night.
“We’ve had patients tell us, ‘I didn’t know how badly I was sleeping until I started using the CPAP. Now I wake up energized.’ They become the biggest advocates.”
Sleep medicine isn’t just reactive—it’s preventative. Catching and treating sleep issues early can help prevent long-term damage to the heart, brain, and other organs. It’s one more way Shore Medical Center, with the help of donors, is working to keep our community well. If you think a sleep study is right for you, talk to your doctor. To schedule a Shore sleep study, call 609-477-7036.
