Testimonials

Erik Chandler • Sleep Apnea
"After 7 years of suffering from depression, I was seeing no end in sight. Before I went to see Dr. Barker I was skeptical and didn’t understand that sleep played such a vital role in how I felt. In less than a year after my sleep study, I was off of anti-depressants. I can’t tell you how much better I feel. It’s like the fog has lifted and I can finally see again"

Emily Hildreth • Narcolepsy
"Dr. Barker put me at ease immediately. The rooms were so much nicer than I expected and the staff was very friendly and professional. I can’t tell you how nice it is to be able to watch a movie without nodding off. This treatment has changed my life 180 degrees."

Jack Tharp • Sleep Apnea
"I’m a truck driver. When I could only drive for 45 minutes at a time without wanting to fall asleep I knew I needed help. I went to see Dr. Barker and she diagnosed me with sleep apnea. The staff was so patient in making sure that I got the right equipment. My quality of life has never been better!"

Stephanie Greene • Insomnia & RLS
"Dr. Barker changed my life. After 24 years of struggling with insomnia and not being treated successfully, I am sleeping through the night and feel rested in the morning. I was also diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome and the treatment here has completely cured it!"

Martin Bradley • Sleep Apnea
"I had been to several doctors but Dr. Barker was the only doctor that really took the time to fully understand what was going on with me. I was amazed at how knowledgeable she was about sleep and how it affects your overall health. Now when I come home from working all day I still have tons of energy left."

"I’ve even been able to help my mom get the right sleep care she needed. After five years of having been misdiagnosed and having no follow-up treatment, she was very reluctant. Dr. Barker and her staff put her at ease right away. She was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea but is now getting the quality treatment she needs."

July 13, 2010

Dear Dr. Barker:

The purpose of this letter is to let you know how pleased I am with you and your staff’s commitment to patient care.

A 2007 excerpt from How Doctors Think states that, “within the first 18 seconds of an office visit, a doctor will interrupt a patient telling his story and generate an idea in his mind [of] what’s wrong.” Some experts believe that 20 to 25 percent of all patients are misdiagnosed by their doctor. I believe our society’s tolerance stems from how we are taught as children. When we get ill, we naturally trust our doctors to provide us with the right information to help us return to health. Simply because of their training and experience, we believe medical professionals do no wrong. Unfortunately, we are in an era when we cannot find quality doctors.

As you may remember from our discussion, I visited another prominent sleep specialist in the Knoxville area in 2008. Within ten minutes, I was diagnosed with “short sleeper syndrome” and was told simply to reduce the amount of time I try sleeping, and take an antihistamine before bed. I felt very uncomfortable with his slipshod advice, but I accepted it, nonetheless. I began to think I was destined to be a light sleeper; it was simply part of who I was. It wasn’t until I found myself taking a number of over-the-counter sleep aids did I begin to question his advice. Before my visit with you, my nightly regimen included two SleepMed tablets, 10 mgs of melatonin, and a Benadryl capsule. While I could fall asleep easily, I woke up five, six, or seven times each night. As you may imagine, my lack of sleep affected my overall well-being, which hurt my concentration, memory, and overall attitude. I honestly couldn’t be awake for more than 20 minutes without yawning or wanting to doze off.

During my visit, I was really impressed with your office staff. Before meeting you, your billing specialist and nurse discussed treatment options. This immediately put me at ease. I hadn’t expected that you would really listen to me, or spend tie talking about my sleep patterns. It’s very rare to find a team of dedicated professionals with such a high customer service focus. You spent almost 40 minutes with me; I can’t begin to tell you how appreciative I am. I had no idea that the medicine I was taking was actually preventing me from sleeping, and how ineffective those drugs really were.

When you suggested I have sleep studies performed, I have to admit that I was a bit nervous. However, my sleep technologist, April, was great! Her natural friendliness and professional attitude made both studies enjoyable. While I didn’t sleep well during the first night, I felt her initial explanation as to why I wasn’t sleeping helped me understand that my problem wasn’t chemical, but physical. I felt her own experience as an apnea patient helped build my rapport with her. I couldn’t have asked for a more sympathetic, responsive and knowledgeable individual.

My first week using the CPAP machine has been miraculous. I can’t begin to express how happy I have been this past week. Work colleagues have come to me on several occasions and asked why I was in such a happy mood. All I could say was, “I am finally sleeping.” I have gone to sleep between 10:30-11:00pm, and have woken up about 6:30am each morning. Instead of hitting the snooze button five times, I actually get up, shower, dress, and then I am ready to start my day without wanting to fall back asleep. I honestly never knew that was possible.

I just want to thank you and your staff for giving me my life back. I know it sounds a bit overwhelming, but solid sleep has given me a new lease on life. Even after one night with the CPAP machine, I felt a significant difference. It’s so comforting to know that there is at least one medical practice that puts their patients’ needs ahead of their personal or financial agendas. You should be very proud of your successes.

Again, please accept my gratitude, and share my appreciation with your staff.

Sincerely,
Shayne M. Harrison