red flag for ResTraxx monitoring

Guys---- be careful of those monitoring devices they're starting to put on cPAP machines... garbage in, garbage out...

http://www.sleepguide.com/profiles/blog ... round-dans

Lynda1949 wrote:Guys---- be careful of those monitoring devices they're starting to put on cPAP machines... garbage in, garbage out...

http://www.sleepguide.com/profiles/blog ... round-dans

It's like I told my RT when she asked why I was so concerned about the detailed information on my cards. "After all," she said, "those cards hold SIX MONTHS of compliance data!"

I told her, point blank, that compliance data was irrelevant to me. I know I'm using it for 6-10 hours a night. What I want to know is how effective that usage is -- and the only thing which will tell me that is the detailed charts.

Leaving yourself open to treatment by people that only care about their bottom line, leaves you open to trouble, be informed yourself. You should be the one to take a active interest in your treatment.

XPAP treatment, so easy a Cave Mad can do it! Jim

I have posted a comment to the blogger re his story.

It seems to me he may not have told the full details as in this story he implies that the DME hasd a contract to analyze his friends data each night (short of a PSG I don't really know any DME who does this).

The Restraxx appears to be how this DME tracks compliance which I suspect he needs in order for the insurance company to keep its payments up. The blogger does not spell out clearly what the payments are for but at a guess I believe they are the normal rental payments for the machine supplied.

The reality appears to be that the blogger totally misunderstands this and is assuming that the DME has staff who are paid to actively analyze each patients nightly data & to make recommendations based on any issues they may observe. In the real world that will only happen if someone contracts a DME to do just that & even then any thinking person will want some checks and balances in place to assure that the service is being provided as paid for.

The blogger uses some very dramatic wording to imply the DME is letting his friend go 'choking to death'.

In my eyes this is an unfortunate and possibly very inaccurate story that could be slandering the DME (had he been identified).

DSM

Lynda1949 wrote:Guys---- be careful of those monitoring devices they're starting to put on cPAP machines... garbage in, garbage out...

http://www.sleepguide.com/profiles/blog ... round-dans

It's not the "monitoring devices".....it's the presumption by far too many involved in this therapy that "compliance" is equal to "good (or even adequate) therapy"......and that's a huge disservice to the patients who are trying to treat their condition.

All you have to do is read the horror stories on the forums to see the truth.

Den

I'm finding it suspicious that we're seeing a lot of this blogger here lately... are they just trying to boost their traffic?

cflame1 wrote:I'm finding it suspicious that we're seeing a lot of this blogger here lately... are they just trying to boost their traffic?

I think he is a genuine cpapper with an active attitude & that is a v.good thing. My comments re his story are that it is a very emotive one & doesn't appear to represent the full story. As with all attempts to make a hard-hitting point, we can come unstuck if we play to the crowd rather than the facts.

DSM

#2 Hmmmm I see the original poster is a guest ? - perhaps that blog facility itself is being promoted here to do exactly what I did - go there - join up & get engaged
so yes it is interesting that the blog keeps popping up here

cflame1 wrote:I'm finding it suspicious that we're seeing a lot of this blogger here lately... are they just trying to boost their traffic?

He/they have also been posting on the ASAA forum under the name "UTSleep".

http://www.apneasupport.org/about19351.html

Den

Guys, I think DSM and I have come to some sort of truce on my blog, http://www.sleepguide.com, although I'm sure he'll be the first one to take issue with that for those of you wondering, no i'm not spamming this forum with junk to turn a buck or two. i'm just a frustrated CPAPer who has decided to vent some of his frustrations on a blog. i'm not selling anything, and have no ulterior motive. just good old fashioned bitching because of what i've seen out there, and advocating for what i think would be better.

UTSleep wrote:Guys, I think DSM and I have come to some sort of truce on my blog, http://www.sleepguide.com, although I'm sure he'll be the first one to take issue with that for those of you wondering, no i'm not spamming this forum with junk to turn a buck or two. i'm just a frustrated CPAPer who has decided to vent some of his frustrations on a blog. i'm not selling anything, and have no ulterior motive. just good old fashioned bitching because of what i've seen out there, and advocating for what i think would be better.

I never took it that way. Looked like another place to cuss and discuss what goes on with this therapy.
Lots of others (legitimate forum members) who post here have their own web sites listed in their profiles, too.

Might as well register on this one, too.

Den

UTSleep wrote:Guys, I think DSM and I have come to some sort of truce on my blog, http://www.sleepguide.com, although I'm sure he'll be the first one to take issue with that for those of you wondering, no i'm not spamming this forum with junk to turn a buck or two. i'm just a frustrated CPAPer who has decided to vent some of his frustrations on a blog. i'm not selling anything, and have no ulterior motive. just good old fashioned bitching because of what i've seen out there, and advocating for what i think would be better.

Mike,

I am satisfied it is a legitimate discussion brought on by the situation your friend was in. We all learn from these types of explorive interactions.

Cheers Doug

UTSleep wrote:Guys, I think DSM and I have come to some sort of truce on my blog, http://www.sleepguide.com, although I'm sure he'll be the first one to take issue with that for those of you wondering, no i'm not spamming this forum with junk to turn a buck or two. i'm just a frustrated CPAPer who has decided to vent some of his frustrations on a blog. i'm not selling anything, and have no ulterior motive. just good old fashioned bitching because of what i've seen out there, and advocating for what i think would be better.

Mike, I'll post this here as I can't recall the login at the blog site - re who influences who between FDA, medical profession & DMEs.

AFAIK - All cpap machines are regulated & controlled by the FDA. A manufacturer has to seek FDA approval to sell into the US market. Part of the process is the issue of requiring a prescription from a doctor or RT, to change the settings on a CPAP. This I believe is input from the medical profession.

The manufacturers in turn have contracts to supply through large distribution groups. These 'bricks and mortar' outlets (DMEs) are like lobby groups and they tend to strongly oppose competitors and in particular, internet sellers. The DMEs argue that they provide a face-to-face service and that if manufacturers allow internet selling, then unscrupulous opportunists will destroy the DME business chain and replace it with a free for all where users don't get the right support.

There is merit to the two sides of the argument but here at cpaptalk we are more likely to lean towards Internet sellers being given due credit for providing a fair service. We think cpaptalk is a shining light in how internet sales can work in a connected world.

For example, in Australia Resmed (this was told to me by a Resmed dealer) were under such pressure from their 'bricks and mortar' outlet chains, that Resmed banned the sale of machines unless the purchaser could collect the machine personally. This was what the lobby groups wanted & got. The Internet sellers here ask buyers to collect their purchases from one of their main city locations as this gets them by that ruling. The 'chains' include chemists shops as well as health centers.

The DMEs also appear to be behind demands to the manufacturers to not supply software that allows monitoring of cpap machines. They say that the investment they have to put into setting up respiratory health centers is such that they have to be able to charge for all services.

DMEs also argue that Internet sellers engage in price cutting and thus DMEs argue for resale price maintenance (although in some countries that kind of price agreement is deemed uncompetitive). The manufacturers are somewhat at the mercy of the big buying groups. A shift from one manufacturer to another by a big chain can have a detrimental impact of a manufacturers business.

Speaking for myself. I would rather see cpap machines sold through whoever can demonstrate (such as cpap.com) an ability to supply support to the purchasers. If someone wants face-to-face support they can go to the health centers (DME outlets). If someone is a bit more modern & Internet savvy, they should be able to buy it all from their preferred Internet supplier. This includes monitoring software as I am in little doubt as to the likelihood that any DME will monitor my nightly data to my satisfaction.

DSM

DSM, thank you for clarifying the situation i was blogging about on sleepguide.com ... personally, i think cpap.com does a better job than any DME/RT I know at supplying the equipment, and offering service for it. i am appalled at how much power the brick & mortar DMEs have been able to exert over the manufacturers. seems like the manufacturers are doing all they can to make their products better for patients, but that brick & mortar DMEs are subverting their efforts.

Mike

Thanks for clarifying, Mike. As you probably realize I've visited and commented at your blog and done my own share of b*tching about the "powers that be".

Mike,

There's more

I forgot to expand on the structure that is in place between medical insurance providers and DMEs. The Insurance industry generally will pay out on a Cpap prescription but require evidence of compliance. The can't really get that from an Internet seller but can from a DME. So that infrastructure tends to create a money chain between insurance providers and DMEs.

This differs country to country. e.g. in Australia the insurance provides are very tight on supplying cpaps & generally will only offer a maximum of $500 each 3 years. In Aust a typical Auto has an rrp of around $AUD $1,600 to $2,200 so many find it easier to buy in the US & ship the unit to Australia & claim the $500 & get a better deal but with no warranty.

Because of different laws in different countries (esp USA & FDA influence) some manufacturers name the machines differently & use different colors on the cases & that way can quickly identify an import. They will usually say take it back to where you bought it or if they do agree to take it for repair will often charge more than you paid for it.

DSM