With the opening of KDMC’s Sleep Center, those sleepless inBrookhaven now have hope for a good night’s rest.

The clinic opened June 6, but a ribbon-cutting ceremonyWednesday made it official. The clinic is located in the buildingnext to Brookhaven Urology in front of the hospital.

“The need had been established in the medical community, andwe’d been referring people to Jackson, Hattiesburg and even BatonRouge,” said Chief Development Officer Johnny Rainer.

Rainer said the new clinic would help not only because it’slocal, but because it will cut down on sleepless nights betweenvisits.

“There were lengthy wait times at the other places,” he said.”We had this building available to renovate, and we knew this wouldbe a great situation.”

Rainer said since the clinic opened, it has served 25 referralsand 10 studies. He said Dr. Spencer Moody and Dr. Jeffrey Ross arethe local doctors serving the clinic, and that Dr. Maria Rappai, apulmonologist with the Jackson Pulmonary Associates, will behelping as well.

Technical Director Laura Benton said many people don’t know theyhave a problem that can be corrected until they see the physiciansat a clinic like the Sleep Center.

She said even the fact of being studied and monitored doesn’tkeep those who need the help from dropping off quicklysometimes.

“Sometimes people are so tired they fall right to sleep whenthey get here,” she said. “Once they wake up, they realize howtired they were.”