Obtaining a referral

Appointments for evaluation can be made in one of three ways:

• Physician referral for a sleep study. The majority of our patients first consult with their doctor. If the physician feels it is necessary, the patient will be referred to us for an overnight sleep study.
   
• Physician referral for a consultation. Some physicians ask that their patients have a consultation with us, prior to any sleep study. Consultation is then scheduled with Dr. Bird or Dr. Thornton as part of the requested physician's referral.

Note: For either type of referral above -- consultation or sleep study -- your physician's office can fill out our convenient Referral Form for doctors.

• Self-referral for a consultation. We prefer that you first consult with your physician about your sleep problem. If your physician feels it is necessary, you can then be referred to us for a consultation.
       However, if no physician referral is available, you can make an appointment directly for a consultation with either Doctor Bird or Doctor Thornton. This is a "self-referral."

Note that you must have a consultation -- either with your doctor, or with Doctors Bird or Thornton -- before a sleep study can be scheduled.
 

To make an appointment

Once you have a physician's referral, or have decided to self-refer for a consultation, you're ready to make an appointment. Call (407) 303-2273 to schedule any type of appointment: a consultation, sleep study, or follow-up visit. This is the number for Florida Hospital's Central Scheduling.

Locations for consultations

Consultations and follow-up visits are currently done at four locations. The doctors see patients daily at Florida Hospital's Orlando Main Campus. They also see patients on certain days at Altamonte Springs, Celebration Health and Winter Park Memorial Hospital.

Locations for sleep studies

Sleep studies are done at all six Florida Hospital Center for Sleep Disorder locations: Orlando Main Campus, East Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Celebration, Winter Park and Apopka.
 

The role of insurance

Most of our patients pay by insurance. Some insurance plans require that you have a physician's referral before seeing us for a consultation or sleep study. Other plans allow self-referals, where the initial consultation is done by Dr. Bird or Dr. Thonton.

To find out about your insurance coverage, check our Insurance page. Or, since plans can change, simply call our insurance coordinator Susan Jacques at (407) 695-7521. She'll know if you can come right in, or if you need a physician referral first.
   

"Doctor Thorton and I specialize in sleep disorders.

If instead you have a mild sleep problem such as occasional insomnia, please see your primary care physician. He or she can help with mild problems, and can refer you to us if the problem is more serious."

Dr. Morris T. Bird

NOTE: Sleep health information discussed at this website is for educational purposes. Each
            individual is different and may have varying symptoms, diagnosis and treatments.
            If you are having sleep health problems, obtain professional medical advice.

©2006, Morris T. Bird, M.D. and Robert S. Thornton, M.D.
Medical Directors of the Center for Sleep Disorders at Florida Hospital
Solving sleep problems, snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia and other sleeping issues in Central Florida.
With six sleep centers at Florida Hospital locations:
   Orlando Main Campus, East Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Celebration, Winter Park and Apopka