It is our commitment to the whole patient, and our follow-through to insure that a sleep study leads to better quality of life, that sets us apart from the faceless alternatives.
—Dr. Vernon Rowe
Dr. Vernon Rowe opened an accredited sleep center in Kansas City fifteen years ago to improve his treatment of neurology patients. Since then, the RNI Sleep Center has grown into one of the only sleep study providers in Kansas City where patients are seen as an entire person, complete with lifestyle, habits, and a goal for better daytime function and higher quality of life.
Get the benefit of cutting-edge research
We don’t just read research papers. RNI has generated our own cutting-edge research, documenting links between sleep disorders and other conditions like migraine headaches and back and neck pain. We are able to make these innovations thanks to our intense sub-specialization in these areas of neurology, and thanks to our commitment to understanding each patient as a whole, complex person.
RNI is independent from hospitals, but that doesn’t mean we’re small. We perform 1,500 sleep studies annually. Our independence from hospitals does mean freedom from inflated fees and “hospital facility fees,” which can add hundreds of dollars to outpatient services — many of them from the patient’s pocket.
Seeing is believing: We help you understand your sleep study results
We believe it is extremely important for a patient to see their sleep study in detail. Treatment for sleep disorders can require some adjustment at first, and it can be frustrating. So we sit down with patients to let them see for themselves what really happens when they’re asleep. At RNI this includes showing video and audio of the sleeping patient, along with a patient explanation of some of the more technical aspects of polysomnography as needed.
Wherever you get a sleep study done, demand that your doctor sit down and show you how you really sleep, and explain what all the readings mean.
Be your best self again. We’ll show you how.
Can you cure insomnia?
How well are you really sleeping? Find out with our Sleep Quality Quiz.
Dr. VanOwen discusses consequences of sleep disorders:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: “Do you recommend sleep medications?”
A: Only for specific uses. You probably know some of the prescription sleep aids by name. Drug companies advertise them widely, and general doctors prescribe them easily. But if you use them regularly, then you have a problem that isn’t being addressed.
Sleep medications can’t improve the quality of your sleep. Most sleep disorders, including insomnia, are caused by little disturbances of your sleep that prevent you from staying in deep sleep. A sleeping pill will not prevent these disturbances, and therefore will not help you reach the deep sleep your body requires to function well.
If you drink a lot of caffeinated beverages, that can also be a warning sign.
Q: “What health problems are associated with lack of sleep?”
A: If you drive a car, the most immediate danger is your lack of alertness. Never drive drowsy, you’re about to fall asleep (possibly with your eyes open). Park and rest.
Heart attacks and arrhythmias are known to be caused by sleep apnea. Stroke can also result, since heart arrhythmias or fibrillations can send blood clots into the brain to cause stroke.
Depression and anxiety are common in sleep disorder patients. Other conditions that accompany sleep disorders include: headaches, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux.
More FAQ
How do I know if I need to see a sleep specialist?
People tell me I "look tired"...?
When people stop telling you you look tired, when lack of energy has become “your normal,” you have a problem.
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