Would this be helpful for you as a patient?

Let me throw something out here at you all. As you may know, I am the RT for a relatively small DME (our store anyway- we're part of a national corporation). In a few weeks I am going to have what we call a "CPAP clinic" for patients past and present with CPAP units rented or purchased. It is an invitation to bring in one's unit, have the filters and tubing changed if necessary, make sure everything is set where it's supposed to be and cleaned, and also an opportunity for people to look at different masks and get a new one if they'd like. Does this sound like something you would do if you had the opportunity? Any suggestions? This is the first one I've done, and I'm anxious to get it over with so I know what to do better next time. I am also sending flyers out to doctor's offices to extend it to people who do not have equipment through us, but I'm not pushing that too hard since it's the first time. Anyway, suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

What food are you serving . The only thing better than free cpap service is free food to go with it. Free service will get their attention but the food will get them in the door .

How about a demo of the latest technology . Could bring their own mask and test drive a new auto unit .

Offer a discount on a new unit purchased within 30 days.

A grand prize drawing for a mask. Other prizes like mask cleaning spray. A package of filters. A surge protector.

Show them the difference a humidifier makes and also show them what happens when they use tap water in it compared to distilled water. The corrosion it causes .

The evil DMES are watching you and they aren't liking what they see.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,

Chris

Great ideas Chris!

Hope Chris (the RRT) takes them and runs. We'll need an emoticon with a hallo to use when replying to her posts.

I paticularily like the "bring your own mask and test drive a new machine" idea.

Of course all the "free" stuff is always good too.

Hmmmm. Any chance you'd invite people who are NOT your direct customers to make the trip and show up as well?

Damn, man, there's not much I can think of W.R.T. apnea that I want more than a chance to actually check out all the masks, and maybe get a bit more information on the different machines available.

(Of course, it still doesn't let me trial the different APAP machines and see which algorithm best suits my particular case, but you're going far and away beyond most of what we hear about on here, one step at a time).

Liam lite, one third less substance to the signature line than our regular Liam.

Christine....wow! You really are thinking outside the box to provide unusually good service. What a great idea you have! And the suggestions in this topic are super.

The only thing I see that might backfire on test driving an autopap, is the variance in what "low" pressure suits different individuals. Presumably the patients will not be savvy cpap users and might not get a good impression of "autopap" if either of these two scenarios didn't suit them:

1. setting the autopap's low down at 4 or 5 to start with - might feel suffocating to people who are used to something higher to start with - especially ones who never use ramp.

2. setting the autopap's low at 6 - might feel like too much blast of air to those who use ramp down low to start with.

Either way, the first impression would be crucial and might turn some off. "Well, I sure don't want an autopap, if that's what it feels like." Besides, the real value of an autopap doesn't show up in a test drive of a few minutes. It's in the variation of pressure throughout the night (and for many of us...the SOFTWARE data to look over! heh)

Of course, if it's a very small group with lots of time to devote to tweaking a comfortable low for each one, then test driving would be cool with any machine. Would just take more time, so Christine could kinda' play it by ear depending on who showed up and what they were most interested in. Biggest problem for Christine in allowing an autopap test drive would be resetting the low for different people. I just keep thinking about how important the initial impression would be...might not be good. But if someone pretty savvy shows up and wants to try it...sure, let them.

More important than test driving an autopap, might be allowing straight cpap users to test drive C-Flex - and I'd set the C-Flex at "3" to let them feel the most obvious relief on exhalation. Again, though, it would involve more work for Christine - resetting to match whatever single pressure each person was using - if the person even knew! My uncle had been using cpap for ten years and had no idea what pressure he had been prescribed. If they have their own machine there with them, Christine could check the pressure, but.... depends on big the crowd is and how much time she has to go back and forth punching buttons. Perhaps just pick out a guinea pig or two who happen to know what pressure they have been using.

As far as test driving anything...a wide selection of masks to try on sounds like the best thing of all. For sure all three sizes of Activa, a Swift with its 3 sizes, a Breeze (with Medium, Large, and Extra Large pillows), Ultra Mirage FF - and assorted other masks. Even cheapo ones so they could feel the difference.

Give them all a paper with URLs to the two best message boards - cpaptalk and talkaboutsleep. Even the ones who don't use the internet might have a son or daughter who does. Explain how people post questions and get suggestions from message boards.

Give them a handout with the most basic descriptions of what each type of machine does, i.e.:

cpap - "continuous positive air pressure" - is set for a single prescribed pressure and blows that single pressure all night.

cpap with C-Flex (blah blah)

autopap - "auto-adjusting cpap" - is set for a range of pressures (low/high). uses only as much pressure as needed, varying the pressure throughout the night depending on how the person is breathing. Many people are able to sleep at low pressures most of the night for more comfort and fewer mask air leaks.

autopap with C-Flex, BiPap, etc.

Sounds like it will be a great event, Christine. I really like the way you are always thinking about ways to help people get more comfortable with this kind of treatment. As we say in the South, "You're a good'un."

Food brings everyone to the door. Discounts if purchases may help. Saying that, If I waited for my DME to even think of what you're doing, well---. I live in NJ, and if they had a seminar such as you are proposing, here, I'd have a better chance of finding Jimmy Hoffa at the Meadowlands.

Our hosp. sleep ctr. has a seminar once in ''awhile'' gathering, nothing definite for cpap'ers, but it's an hr+ away, and they were not sure "what time of day or evening to schedule" so my question on a support group mtg. was left hung out there. A follow up letter was sent, but if you needed real help, I doubt with the staffing cuts, just how much the sleep ctr would ''be there''for me.

Best yet, post your new prods, HOW TO's, on cpap.com. It worked for me.
I learned nothing from my DME, learned everything from cpap.com.
DME's now have to hustle, we can't have old leftover ineffective technology thrown at us, because a certain mftr. pays higher commish's.
Most people on the msg board know the DME shuffle.

You are commended to be even trying. It's more than I've seen around here.

IllinoisRRT wrote:Let me throw something out here at you all. As you may know, I am the RT for a relatively small DME (our store anyway- we're part of a national corporation). In a few weeks I am going to have what we call a "CPAP clinic" for patients past and present with CPAP units rented or purchased. It is an invitation to bring in one's unit, have the filters and tubing changed if necessary, make sure everything is set where it's supposed to be and cleaned, and also an opportunity for people to look at different masks and get a new one if they'd like. Does this sound like something you would do if you had the opportunity? Any suggestions? This is the first one I've done, and I'm anxious to get it over with so I know what to do better next time. I am also sending flyers out to doctor's offices to extend it to people who do not have equipment through us, but I'm not pushing that too hard since it's the first time. Anyway, suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

Well, the problem I have is that I AM limited in what I can do. For one, we have very few orders for Auto-PAPs and currently don't even have any in stock (:::running for cover:::). And, like most DMEs that I'm aware of, we have mostly one provider of products, Respironics. It's not that I can't get different masks if someone wants one specifically, in fact I have done that multiple times, but I can't keep them in general stock (my boss tried to order one for me that was not for a specific patient that I just wanted to have to see in person and we couldn't end up getting it). I was going to show people the masks that I do have on hand and show them other things besides masks such as nasal pillows and Nasal-Aire type devices, but the problem with that is that I have to have an order from the doctor to change to that appliance (according to my boss anyway). Which I could do after the fact, it's just paperwork. Anyway, though, I do like the idea of letting people try the CFlex, and there will definitely be food involved. Keep the ideas coming!

A potential customer/patient ONLY needs a scrip for the CPAP machine, NOTHING ELSE. If your boss is feeding this to an uninformed customer, this could be construed as fraud. I'm no lawyer, but no one should be pushed into accepting the Rx from the doctor has to cover everything. Now saying this, from state to state, may be true in Illinois, this I do not know?

So the field is wide open to buy what you want, from WHOM you want to and only needing the scrip for the machine. Why we even need that I can't tell you, we're smart enuf to set our own darn machine. I doubt I'll see my DME'er again if ever.

. I shopped around and frankly had one DME'er tell me that there's no possible way they could help me due to the fact, that I was not using what they recommended. I told them I DON"T CARE WHAT YOU RECOMMEND, I want what I want, when I want it, and if you can't get it SOMEONE ELSE CAN.

It puts nice people like you out there in for quite a lot bashing (get a helmet to wear to your seminar!).....People who legitimately want to help and serve. If your boss go online here, he'd be quite threatened by the empowerment of those of us who stuck to our guns, fought the insurance DME battle and GOT WHAT WE want. The 2 models that the 2 places quoted me were old versions. We know the drill. $ first, patient second. But to be competitive DME'ers are going to have to go along to stay afloat. Sad reality of internet is, we are more informed than most DME'ers give us credit for, and those that do go out of their way to accomodate as the 2nd one of two that I demanded of, then they got my business. As far as ''quality time'' spent explaining, I was told "I'd bet you know more about the machine than I do"...And guess what, SHE WAS RIGHT.

Good luck being in a pretty rough business. Internet sales has changed sales and selling forever. There's a local clothing store in our area, who's been in a successful position for many yrs, , that I'm going to paraphrase: "an educated consumer is our best customer", and so it goes.

Good luck with your seminar. Your boss will have his eyes opened!

IllinoisRRT wrote:Well, the problem I have is that I AM limited in what I can do. For one, we have very few orders for Auto-PAPs and currently don't even have any in stock (:::running for cover:::). And, like most DMEs that I'm aware of, we have mostly one provider of products, Respironics. It's not that I can't get different masks if someone wants one specifically, in fact I have done that multiple times, but I can't keep them in general stock (my boss tried to order one for me that was not for a specific patient that I just wanted to have to see in person and we couldn't end up getting it). I was going to show people the masks that I do have on hand and show them other things besides masks such as nasal pillows and Nasal-Aire type devices, but the problem with that is that I have to have an order from the doctor to change to that appliance (according to my boss anyway). Which I could do after the fact, it's just paperwork. Anyway, though, I do like the idea of letting people try the CFlex, and there will definitely be food involved. Keep the ideas coming!

I would love to be involved in a cpap clinic,but as far as I know that is not available here.There is an AWAKE group in a town 45 min away,I was going to the first meeting(for me),and it was canceled,and I was really disapointed. They check the machines there for you,and they would have had different types of masks.
Now it will be two months before there is another one(maybe).

Marie

For an inexpensive freebie, you could give your visitors samples of microfoam tape made by 3M. I always put a piece on the bridge of my nose when I use a mask and never have abrasions on my skin. One piece can be used for at least a week. Cut off pieces in the appropriate length and place them on wax paper.

For those of you unfamilar with microfoam tape, it is padded and comes in a roll. I use the 1 inch width. It is available at a local DME for $3.16 a roll.

If you stocked the product, you might generate some sales.

In the Chicago suburbs, I've heard of several CPAP clinics that are done by the sleep doctor's office and/or the sleep center staff, where patients newly diagnosed come in and are allowed to try on different masks. These facilities apparently have invested in some equipment to sterilize the masks after the try-ons and use them only for that purpose. Since I've not actually attended one of these clinics, I don't know for sure, but I believe that a charge is submitted to the insurance company or paid by the patient. While we can argue that this service should be free, there are costs involved to the provider which do have to be covered.

We have about a dozen A.W.A.K.E. groups in the Chicago area. Most of them have an annual "equipment fair" at one of their fall meetings. In my own two groups, I have the major manufacturer's reps come by with their latest machines and masks. We set each of them up at a 8 ft table and offer a mini-trade show, which does allow for patients seeing a variety of equipment from whomever can be there that evening. Most of the new equipment is introduced at a major industry meeting in June so that's why we typically have our "fairs" in the fall.

The local A.W.A.K.E. groups here will also usually have one meeting a year where they will inspect equipment, check pressures (with a manometer) and help out with questions from the patient.

Since A.W.A.K.E. groups around the country operate pretty independently, I can't guarantee that any specific group also does these two types of meetings, but I'm confident that many of them do.

If anyone wants to find out about an A.W.A.K.E. group in your area, please email awake@sleepapnea.org and we'll see if we can hook you up with a group.

If any of you are interested in helping start an A.W.A.K.E. group, please visit http://www.sleepapnea.org/potent.html for more information.

Dave

Your enthusiasm is encouraging. Doesn't sound like your boss agrees.

Would it be worthwhile to start an AWAKE group in your area and get support and trial equipment from manufacturer's reps? Apparently you're unable to carry a large enough stock.

Christine,

Can you post a time and place for your open house so that those of us on the forum that are in the area can attend?

Gailzee,
Sorry to inform you. Jimmy Hoffa isn't at the Meadowlands. He is now running a DMES in Texas. LOL

Chris

How often should one's cpap machine be tested for accuracy?