DME grrrrrrrrr

fredpb · Post by **fredpb** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:33 am

I wanted to switch from the M Series Plus to Pro. Just talked to my DME.
He does not want to do it.

He gave me a long speech, etc, "I have been doing this for 17 years...", "In two months you will get tired of it", etc.

gggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

He IS a nice guy though, but I am disappointed. Being a computer and software retiree I love my computer stuff.

What really would be the benefit of usings detailed readings??? More of his logic is if you are having problems with your apnea, you will know it by the way you feel...and some other websites have also stated this.

But I reiterate, "ggggrrrrrr".

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odawa · Post by **odawa** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:49 am

I agree with you. I'm a computer geek also and the lack of data just bothers me. This seems so pointless without some kind of marker to test if I'm getting better.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:34 am

I think you may have run into a burned-out, jaded DME employee.

Many (most, imho) people prescribed CPAP do become "tired" of the struggle to make this kind of therapy work comfortably enough to actually sleep. They do drop out. Usually because of uncomfortable masks and lack of support from the very people who are supposed to help them.

Too bad the guy you are dealing with, Fred, doesn't see the difference between you, who wants to become more proactive in your own treatment, and the vast majority who simply accept what's given to them and do eventually quit. I'd think a person who is obviously educating himself about the machines and the treatment is MUCH more likely to stick with it.

The guy should have been encouraging you -- not throwing cold water on your interest in monitoring your own treatment.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:22 am

He probably is suffering from inhaling all those oil fumes coming off the Deep Fryer, from his previous day job.

He gave me a long speech, etc, "I have been doing this for 17 years...", "In two months you will get tired of it", etc.

You should of ask him how this was a concern of his. Jim

KansasRT · Post by **KansasRT** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:48 am

Another side to this story is that I work at a DME ( I know--- YUCK) All of the machines I provide are the top end ( Meaning downloadable) I have yet to find a Dr that cares about the information. I called one of the bigger offices in town to see if they were able to read cards or CPAP information and they laughed at me. It seems like alosing battle, but I am still not going to sell a machine that is not data capable. I don't care if the patient will never download it or look at it. I don't want to be the reason they can't.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:31 am

KansasRT wrote:Another side to this story is that I work at a DME ( I know--- YUCK) All of the machines I provide are the top end ( Meaning downloadable) I have yet to find a Dr that cares about the information. I called one of the bigger offices in town to see if they were able to read cards or CPAP information and they laughed at me. It seems like alosing battle, but I am still not going to sell a machine that is not data capable. I don't care if the patient will never download it or look at it. I don't want to be the reason they can't.

Good morning, KansasRT.
Hope you're staying high and dry where you're at.

Can you answer my $64 question?

WHY have these companies made these features available in these machines and the software to monitor it when the "medical professionals" don't believe the data, don't WANT the data, can't download the data and don't want to sell those machines (because their profit margin is more important then their patients' health)......AND, now they're trying to keep the software from the patients who DO really want to monitor their therapy?

I know you're one of the "good ones" and really do care about your clients, but the longer I read these stories on the forums, the madder I get at the others who don't.

Maybe I really need to quit reading......

Best wishes,

Den

Shadowatcher · Post by **Shadowatcher** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:32 am

I think it is a lot easier to remain compliant when you see how things are going each night. Looking at leak rates and events provides a basis for making adjustments while hoping for a perfect night. And yes, I am a retired computer type.

Shadowatcher

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:28 am

I am one of those nosey, PITA patients who INSISTS on a copy of every test, radiology exam, procedure, etc. results. I LOVE this new digital radiology where they actually give you your "films" on CD or DVD! And these medical professionals are naive or dumb enough to think I'm not going to want to be able to access my CPAP data?? Say what?

What I really don't understand is WHY Resmed set in place access to our data in that detailed or advanced patient menu (and were way ahead of Respironics in that regard), but instead of routinely making its access available they have it set up and tell the scripting physicians that access to that menu is available to the patient ON DOCTOR'S ORDER. The DME supplier can NOT "turn on" access to that info UNLESS the ordering doctor specifically orders it. And most sleep doctors don't even seem to be aware that that option is available!!! Like duh, doc!!

I suspect that Resmed was more attuned to the patient than the doctors but limited access to that data to stay on the good side of the medieval mentality of so many or the majority of the doctors (at least those doctors in the US. I don't have any experience w/doctors outside of the US). American doctors seem so slow coming out of the dark ages!!!

Its too bad that sleep doctors don't have a better knowledge and understanding of the xPAPs they script for their patients!!! Part of their approval to practice sleep medicine should entail a strong course in xPAP machines and their capabilities!!!

One of these days I just might nose around and see just what training they DO receive before they can practice sleep medicine!!

Hey, Fred. Why not sit down w/this DME guy and just tell him that you really appreciate the service, etc. that he has provided you and you sure HOPE he isn't going to force you to spend your own hard earned money on buying a fully data capable M series Pro online so that your data is available to better help point out the cause of any problems you encounter w/your xPAP therapy so your doctor doesn't have to go by gosh and by guess to rectify the situation. The Plus may be a good xPAP but not for much more than sitting in the closet as a back up xPAP. Bring up diabetes, etc. where patients actually have to monitor their own "therapy" w/doctor supervision as an example. Maybe even ask him if HE has the Respironics software to even download that data for your doctor. Maybe you can still wake him up and get him to think "outside the box". Good luck.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:36 am

And some of us just go by how we feel each day.

seriously, I'm upgrading soon.

geoDoug · Post by **geoDoug** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:35 am

Wulfman... wrote:WHY have these companies made these features available in these machines and the software to monitor it when the "medical professionals" don't believe the data, don't WANT the data, can't download the data and don't want to sell those machines (because their profit margin is more important then their patients' health)......AND, now they're trying to keep the software from the patients who DO really want to monitor their therapy?

Don't ask that question! You'll give manufacturers ideas. (As if they haven't already thought about it...)

Regarding the "why do it" question, it the diabetes analogy is perfect. It illustrates perfectly that relying on "how you feel" is simply absurd. I can't imagine any self-respecting doctor telling a diabetic to wait until they feel like they may be slipping into a coma before giving themselves a shot. They'd probably get their license taken away from them.

There are good doctors out there. It's worth remembering that another word for "doctor" is "human." Some are good people. Some are crappy people. I've had both. If you don't like your doctor and have the resources around you, fire him/her and start looking around until you find one you like. Good docs are out there.

Doug.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:25 pm

maybe you should have posted this under your other thread already started "Victory over DME" instead of starting a new one

people reading that other thread may get a false sense that you can actually deal with those idiots

KansasRT · Post by **KansasRT** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 2:53 pm

I can almost bet that Dr's could care less if their patients have access to the Advanced menu's. My guess is that it is ignorance on the DME and the DR's part about the advanced menu. I would bet that most DME's don't know how to turn on the advanced menu, so they say that it needs a Dr's order. I have said this before, but just to remind everyone here. You all are exceptional CPAP patients. I know it is hard to remember on this forum, but you all are minorities. Seriously. Most of the time after spending one or two hours setting up a CPAP machine with a patient and asking them if they have any questions, they say I really don't want to know all that. Can you turn off the menu? NO KIDDING!! It is an uphill battle with rocks in our pockets.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:29 pm

KansasRT wrote:Another side to this story is that I work at a DME ( I know--- YUCK) All of the machines I provide are the top end ( Meaning downloadable) I have yet to find a Dr that cares about the information. I called one of the bigger offices in town to see if they were able to read cards or CPAP information and they laughed at me. It seems like alosing battle, but I am still not going to sell a machine that is not data capable. I don't care if the patient will never download it or look at it. I don't want to be the reason they can't.

I totally commend you for making sure your patients have full data available even if they will never download or look at it.

I totally believe those bare bone compliance only machines should be discontinued.

Now I told my Pulmonary Dr. and the Tech that works at the DME/Sleep lab flat out that I had the software and I was just waiting on my card reader. They totally want me to send them copies of my data regularly. They appreciated that I want to stay involved with my treatment.

Of course my Dr. warned me to not listen to everything I hear from you guys on the internet... Wants me to make sure what I've heard is really true or not... Silly woman like I can't do proper research

But the point is that there is some out there that do look at that information. My tech downloaded it when I took my machine in to get checked out for a glitch it had. While there he downloaded the numbers and he took and got my Dr. to rubber stamp moving from BiPAP to Auto BiPAP and confirmed I had a major mask leak issue as well and fitted me a new mask FOR FREE.

So that data can be very important.

Or maybe

and Pigs can Fly

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:19 pm

KansasRT your input is always appreciated. But I do have to state that all the DME has to do is READ the manual, Clinician's Manual OR Patient's Manual and it is stated quite clearly in there that it is the doctor's option to order access to that advanced patient menu or not.

I know my sheister DME's RT said she didn't know anything about it. After I pointed out to her that the option that she said my S8 Elite wasn't capable of WAS available. Of course, she's been so untruthful about so many things (or is totally dumber than a rock and out of her league and should be removed from her position) who knows if she was being less than truthful, just backed into a corner w/the truth or really just dumber than a rock!!

It has been so much more pleasant to transfer getting my CPAP supplies from my CPAP DME to my 02 DME. I only regret that my 02 DME isn't getting the benefits of the CPAP rental as well.

Mask

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