In light of the current COVID-19 outbreak, we wanted to let you know about the option to visit with our physicians using telemedicine.  Our medical team is working to complete consultations, follow-up visits, prescription renewals, and provide other services using a secure telehealth platform that is fully integrated with your electronic medical record.  We are able to evaluate and treat patients via phone and/or video telemedicine visits that enter into your medical chart.  We are open Monday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm to schedule your appointment by telephone, and we have flexible telemedicine appointments available to meet your schedule. We will make every effort to accommodate those who must meet outside of normal business hours.

As you know, people with certain respiratory (breathing) conditions, those with serious heart conditions, and those who are obese or have diabetes are at greater risk for COVID-19.  Therefore, we are advising all patients with sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing disorders to contact us with any questions or needs they may have related to the continuation of their treatment.

There is no scientific data on the interactions of COVID-19 and Obstructive Sleep Apnea or CPAP as of yet, but based on our experience and our review of American Academy of Sleep Medicine and CDC Guidelines:

  1. It is unclear whether CPAP may make the coronavirus worse. Patients should continue with their CPAP therapy unless otherwise advised by their physician.  Please be aware that using CPAP could increase the risk of spreading the virus to others around you.  We recommend that the CPAP user should sleep in a separate bedroom to minimize the risk of aerosolization of respiratory droplets to others.
  2. Please continue to follow the recommended cleaning procedures for the machine, tubing, mask, filter, and humidifier:https://www.usa.philips.com/c-e/hs/better-sleep-breathing-blog/better-sleep/keeping-it-clean-cpap.html  or https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apnea/cpap-parts-support/cleaning-cpap-equipment/
  3. If you are having difficulty obtaining distilled water for your humidifier, you may consider purified bottled water without added minerals, or boiling and cooling tap or filtered water as a temporary solution. If you opt for the latter option, make sure to clean the humidifier thoroughly as minerals left behind in tap water may cause excess mineral buildup in the tub.  Another option is to forgo using the humidifier during this period of time (if you are able to tolerate), until such time that you are able to access distilled water.
  4. CPAP machines are NOT ventilators and would require significant rework in order to function as a ventilator. Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines may be used to support patients with mild respiratory insufficiency, provided appropriate monitoring.  So it is possible that BiPAP may provide some level of ventilatory support to some COVID-19 patients but should be done so in a monitored setting under the guidance of a physician.  If you or someone you know is having difficulty breathing, please contact your healthcare provider immediately.  Do not try to self-treat on your own at home with your CPAP or BiPAP machine.

Please contact our office at (212) 994-5100 if you would like to schedule an appointment.  You also can schedule an appointment online by visiting: Schedule-appointment

We are available for emergencies and for those who need to be seen in person on a case-by-case basis. On behalf of the entire staff at the Sleep Disorders Institute, we wish you and your loved ones good health, safety, and sound sleep during these challenging times.