Reid Health ENT & Hearing Center completes 100th Inspire® implant procedure
Reid Health recently celebrated completion of its 100th Inspire implant procedure.
Dec. 16, 2025 -- Reid Health ENT
& Hearing Center recently celebrated a milestone in helping patients with
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) get a better night's sleep, performing its 100th
Inspire® implant procedure.
Inspire
therapy is a long-term, mask-free solution for people with OSA who've tried and
struggled with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
When people with OSA sleep, their tongue
relaxes into a position that blocks their airway, causing them to wake up
to take a breath.
If left untreated, the lack of quality
sleep adds up and can lead to serious health risks and hurt overall quality of
life.
CPAP is the
main treatment for OSA, but many people don't benefit from or can't tolerate
it.
Inspire therapy syncs with a patient's natural breathing
pattern and works comfortably inside the body to keep the airway
open during sleep. This enables the patient to breathe regularly and sleep
better.
"Hitting
the 100th Inspire procedure is a testament to how many lives have been changed
through this therapy," said Thomas Jetmore, MD, of Reid Health ENT &
Hearing Center. "Seeing those improvements firsthand is deeply gratifying."
The procedure consists of two small incisions. One is in the upper chest where the Inspire implant and breathing sensors are placed. The second is under the chin where the nerve that controls the airway muscles -- including the tongue -- is located.
Inspire therapy
delivers gentle pulses to move the tongue forward and keep the airway open, allowing
patients to breathe regularly and sleep better - no mask or hose needed. The
patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when
they wake up.
Most patients
return home the same day as having the procedure and take over-the-counter pain
medications as needed. Reid completed its first Inspire system in October 2023.
"As our program grows, we're seeing more individuals come forward to learn about their choices for managing untreated sleep apnea," said Sydney Jiang, MD, of Reid Health ENT & Hearing Center.
"I'm grateful
to our patients who have placed their trust in us, as well as to our Inspire
surgical and Sleep Center colleagues for their collaborative, patient-centered
approach to care."
Along with the
team at Reid ENT & Hearing Center -- Dr. Jetmore, Dr. Jiang, Physician Assistant Kristy Carter,
and Nurse Practitioner Jessica Limburg -- other Reid providers play key roles in
the Inspire program. Those include Novera Inam, MD; Nuzhat Nisa, MD; and Nurse
Practitioner Nancy Geeting from Sleep Medicine as well as Nurse Practitioner
Wendi Shaffmaster at Reid Health Pulmonary.
"The
collaborative efforts play an essential role in the ongoing care of our Inspire
patients, ensuring they receive optimal treatment and contributing greatly to
our overall success," Geeting said.
"Every time I
help a patient begin Inspire therapy, I'm reminded better sleep brings brighter
days, and it's an honor to be part of that transformation."
To learn more about Inspire therapy, visit reidhealth.org/inspire-sleep.
"Every time I help a patient begin Inspire therapy, I'm reminded better sleep brings brighter days, and it's an honor to be part of that transformation." -- Nancy Geeting, NP, Sleep Medicine