Sleep Insights - AASM ISR Program & Scoring Consistency

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Sleep ScoringbydesignersNovember 4, 2024June 22, 2025

AASM ISR Program: Ensuring Scoring Consistency

Consistency is everything when it comes to sleep study scoring—and the AASM Inter-Scorer Reliability (ISR) Program plays a critical role in supporting that consistency across the field.
As providers deeply invested in the accuracy and reliability of sleep scoring, we see the ISR program as more than just a tool for quality assurance; it’s a valuable benchmark that benefits scorers, sleep centers, and ultimately, patients.

“ The ISR Program keeps scorers sharp, aligned, and accountable to the highest standards of quality and consistency. ”

Chad Doucette V.P. Sales & Marketing

What is the ISR Program?

The AASM ISR Program is a subscription-based initiative by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine that allows sleep professionals to evaluate their scoring accuracy against a gold standard. Participants are presented with monthly scoring cases and receive feedback based on agreement with expert consensus.

For scoring professionals, the ISR program offers a practical way to self-assess and sharpen skills in real time. For labs and research organizations, it serves as a trusted measure of inter- scorer consistency, helping to identify discrepancies before they become data quality issues.

Why We Believe in the ISR Program

At Sleep Strategies, we’ve long championed the value of high-fidelity scoring. Our RPSGTs are held to rigorous internal QA standards, and the ISR program adds another layer of external validation that aligns well with our goals.

Here’s why we’re strong supporters of the AASM ISR Program:.

01.

Objective, Ongoing Quality Control

The ISR program offers a structured and unbiased way to measure consistency across scorers. Monthly case reviews create a rhythm of continuous improvement, helping scorers stay sharp and aligned with evolving scoring standards.

02.

Educational Value

The feedback provided through ISR cases often sparks internal discussion and learning opportunities. It’s not just a pass/fail metric—it’s a tool for growth. Even seasoned technologists benefit from reviewing challenging or ambiguous scoring scenarios.

03.

Supports Team Calibration

When multiple scorers are working together on clinical or research projects, aligning on scoring criteria is essential. ISR participation helps establish a common baseline, reducing variability and enhancing reproducibility—especially critical in research settings.

04.

Boosts Credibility and Confidence

Scoring data that has been evaluated against AASM ISR standards adds another layer of confidence for physicians, sponsors, and CROs. In a field where decisions are driven by data, confidence in that data matters.

Final Thoughts

While no single tool can replace the value of experience, training, and collaboration, the AASM ISR Program fills an important gap in our industry. It helps keep scorers connected to the broader sleep scoring community and serves as a reminder that even the best can always improve.

At Sleep Strategies, we see the ISR Program not as a checkbox, but as a key part of a quality- first scoring philosophy. We encourage labs and research partners to consider its value—not just as a compliance measure, but as a long-term investment in quality.

Source Link: https://isr.aasm.org/