Medical-Dental Sleep Collaboration Model Explained

Sleep physician Mark Rasmus, MD, and dental sleep medicine practitioner Jamison Spencer, DMD, MS, have worked together for almost twenty years. Their webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, December 1 at III am PT, will explain how their separate medical and dental practices coordinate care for sleep apnea patients while maintaining independent operations.

Based on thousands of patient interactions, the session will offer practical strategies for building similar referral networks. The presenters will argue that positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and oral appliance therapy (OAT) are complementary treatments, not competitors. A live audience Q&A will follow the presentations.

Building Trust and Referral Pathways

The core of the long-term collaboration between Dr. Rasmus and Dr. Spencer is established trust across medical and dental disciplines. They developed clear referral pathways that guide patients between their respective clinics. This structure allows each practitioner to focus on their specialty while ensuring patients move smoothly to the treatment that best fits their needs. The model maintains separate business and clinical operations, which the presenters say is a key practical feature for real-world adoption.

Patient Selection and Treatment Roles

A significant portion of the webinar will cover patient selection for oral appliance therapy. The doctors will share their criteria for determining which patients are suitable candidates for dental devices versus PAP therapy. They emphasize that the two treatments serve complementary roles within a comprehensive slumber care plan. Follow-up care and objective rest testing after initiating treatment are described as essential components, regardless of the therapy chosen.

Strategies for Local Implementation

Attendees are promised actionable strategies they can apply in their own communities. The lessons are aimed at clinicians who are either beginning to build referral relationships or seeking to strengthen an existing network of rest care providers. Integrated marketing strategies that support collaboration will be listed. Practical tips for developing relationships with nearby clinicians will also be provided.

The webinar is supported by an educational grant. A continuing education program application has been submitted for approval by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).

Presenter Backgrounds

The session features two presenters with extensive backgrounds in the field of slumber medicine.

The event is hosted by Sleep Review magazine.