Approximately 28% of commercial truck drivers are affected by sleep apnea. If apnea is left untreated,  these transportation professionals are between two and seven times more likely to have a serious accident, according to Boulder, Colo-based Covidien, a global health care products company that is supporting the new Mobile Sleep Solution Centers (MSSCs) created by Sleep Pointe, Wichita, Kan.

Housed on 53-foot trailers with private bathrooms and a fully functional sleep technician room, these mobile sleep centers will provide roadside access to diagnosis, education, and treatment facilities on major trucking routes across the United States—all in an effort to keep drivers healthy and safe on the roads.

"Untreated sleep apnea in the transportation industry is known to contribute to serious accidents and severe health consequences," said Duke Naipohn, president and CEO, Sleep Pointe. "This alliance will help Sleep Pointe accomplish our mission of keeping drivers on the road, improving their health and wellness, and reducing the incidence of fatigue-related accidents."

Sleep Pointe is actively promoting MSSCs to nationwide trucking organizations, hoping to establish wellness programs throughout the country.

"What would help is to get truckers to talk to their companies about the need to bring [this type of program] into place. Independent truckers can phone Sleep Pointe directly, and they will be directed to the closest mobile lab," said Andrew Ray, vice president of respiratory monitoring for Covidien. The concept for this project was first formulated about a year ago when Sleep Pointe approached Covidien. "Together, we developed a plan that would provide Sleep Pointe with the guidance and support they needed to get this program off the ground."

Covidien also donated brand-new portable sleep diagnostic and treatment devices to equip the MSSCs with the latest sleep apnea treatment technology. The actions are part of the company's "Unite to Treat Sleep Apnea" initiative, which works to connect physicians, sleep laboratories, treatment providers, and patients to improve the diagnosis and treatment of those afflicted with OSA.