The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has formed a new patient-focused membership organization, the American Alliance for Healthy Sleep (AAHS), which is inviting both health care providers and patients with sleep disorders to become members.
Millions of Americans have a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome. The AAHS was created to help improve their lives through advocacy, education and support.
“The American Alliance for Healthy Sleep is a collaboration between patients, providers, and others who have an interest in promoting healthy sleep,” says AAHS chair Patti Van Landingham, who has been living with narcolepsy for decades, in a release. “Our goal is to improve patient care and raise public awareness by uniting people who have all sleep disorders to advocate for one another.”
One of the distinctive aspects of the AAHS is its emphasis on connecting patients and providers in a partnership to address issues of importance to the sleep community.
“The American Academy of Sleep Medicine established the American Alliance for Healthy Sleep to bring health care providers and patients with sleep disorders together to promote healthy sleep for all,” says AASM president Ilene M. Rosen, MD.
The AAHS is a 501(c)(4) membership association that is led by a board of directors comprising both patients and providers. The 3-part mission of the AAHS is to:
- Engage policymakers and the public to enhance understanding of and care for all sleep disorders
- Provide support services for patients with sleep disorders
- Promote healthy sleep in all populations
One area of emphasis for the AAHS is to advocate for increased and improved care for patients with all sleep disorders. The AAHS also is focused on advocating for research funding and promoting clinical research to improve the understanding and treatment of sleep disorders.
Membership in the AAHS is open to patients who have a sleep disorder, family members of patients, health care providers, and other individuals who are interested in promoting healthy sleep. Member dues are $25 for 2 years.
AAHS members will have access to the latest news and announcements, new research, and an online discussion forum.
Sounds like a copycat of the other patient advocacy groups: National Sleep Foundation, Narcolepsy Foundation, American Sleep Association, RLS foundation…. Just another way to collect money from more people. Why?
A quick look at the organizations that you listed shows that most are specific to one sleep disorder or are for profit. The AASM’s American Alliance for Healthy Sleep appears to be an organization that will provide information on all sleep disorders and is a non-profit.
The foundations mentioned above are non-profits and have been around for some time!