OK . . .I am upset now...Resmed Elite II

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:26 pm

Okay, I have officially gone from elated to PO'd in exactly 30 seconds. I had requested that my new machine be a Resmed S8 Vantage w/EPR and software. Well, my insurance company only approved the Redmed Elite II and I did not find out about this until the respiratory therapist came to set up the machine. The WORST part is this stupid machine does not appear to have software or a card reader for patient use. I am beside myself. I wanted the better machine with the software because I am moving overseas and I wanted to be able to better monitor my therapy. Basically the machine I now have is only slightly better than the Resmed S7 Elite that I had before.

I guess this is my fault as I just had my doc send my prescription in without making an appointment to go in, see him, have another sleep study and so on.

Why oh why does this have to be so hard????? Well, I am done whining now...thanks for listening!

jjposey · Post by **jjposey** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:40 pm

Are you sure your insurance co had any part in that decision?
I would call them and ask them if you haven't already. Don't take the DME's word for it.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:45 pm

It not that bad.

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/fl ... u=products

Resmed US wrote:S8 ELITE II FEATURE SET ALSO
INCLUDES:
• Three EPR settings for more comfortable
breathing
• Comprehensive efficacy and compliance data
• Smart Data™ for patient therapy feedback
• SmartStart™/Stop
• Automatic leak and altitude adjustment
• Optional integration with HumidAire 3i™
heated humidifier
• Breath-by-breath adherence monitoring
• 12V or 24V DC input via ResMed’s
DC-12 converter
• Mask fit

Data storage
Data includes: usage, pressure,
leak and AHI statisticsVia ResScan Data Card: 180 sessions of
summary data, five sessions of detailed data
Via PC cable: 365 sessions of summary data,
five sessions of detailed data.
Data also available via the LCD menu
High resolution data: five sessions of flow
data recorded at 25Hz with S8 ResLink

(My emphasis)

CUatX · Post by **CUatX** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:48 pm

Check with your doctor & the insurance company. The DME may be trying to push a less expensive machine off on you to increase their profit margin.

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:50 pm

Thanks for the info ozioj. I guess I am just irritated because I did not get what I wanted. Everyone else seems to have sophisticated software that they can look at on thier computer and all I get to do is push a couple of buttons on my machine. I am basically getting the same info I got with the Resmed S7 Elite I had before.

Just disappointed because I wanted more!!!!

Arizona-Willie · Post by **Arizona-Willie** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:28 pm

I could be wrong but I believe your machine is what they call " data capable " and should have a data card with it.

I have the S8 Elite and I have the data card ( came with machine ) and you have to get the software yourself. Insurance won't give you the software.

But if the S8 does it I can't see why the S8 Elite II wouldn't do it also.

According to the specs above it will.

You may not have gotten the data card and if necessary you can buy one and a reader from cpap.com.

Isn't there a slot at the back of the machine for the card?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:35 pm

With regard to the machine you mentioned in your first post......the Resmed S8 Vantage w/EPR......you would NOT have use of the EPR in Auto mode.

Like everybody else has said, you'll have data capabilities with THIS machine.

Don't knock it until you try it.

But, as far as getting an "Auto".....that's why a lot of us buy them out-of-pocket. You just can't count on your insurance provider to spend your money wisely.

Den

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:37 pm

Arizona Willie:

You would think that would be the case wouldn't you? I did in fact get a data card with my machine but the only thing I can do is send it to my doc and the will scan it and print out a report. Knowing them like I do, they will then require that I come in and get the results. More office visits mean more money for them!!!! I have investigated this on cpap.com and this S8Elite II uses updated software for which a card reader and software do not appear to be available for the patient to use. If you ask me this is a bunch of BS!!

If anyone understands this different, let me know. I have also looked at this on the Resmed site as well as cpap.com. CPAP.com is emphatic that there is no software for patient use for this machine.

Thanks for all of the feedback!

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:41 pm

Wulfman...

Please help me understand. The respitory therapist told me the only way I can get data out of my machine is if I send the ResScan data card to my doctor so they can use their software to read it. They can then print out a report for me.

I also looked at cpap.com and though there appears to be a card reader/software (that the patient can use at home) for MOST Resmed machines there appears to be no software available for patient use for the S8 Elite II.

If I am wrong please someone tell me where I can get software. I would love to be able to monitor my therapy from the comfort of my own home rather than drive an hour to my docs office.

Thanks for any feedback....perhaps I can't see the forest for all the trees!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:55 pm

skjansen wrote:Wulfman...

Please help me understand. The respitory therapist told me the only way I can get data out of my machine is if I send the ResScan data card to my doctor so they can use their software to read it. They can then print out a report for me.

I also looked at cpap.com and though there appears to be a card reader/software (that the patient can use at home) for MOST Resmed machines there appears to be no software available for patient use for the S8 Elite II.

If I am wrong please someone tell me where I can get software. I would love to be able to monitor my therapy from the comfort of my own home rather than drive an hour to my docs office.

Thanks for any feedback....perhaps I can't see the forest for all the trees!

Hi Stephanie,

If you go to the link in ozij's post and then click on the "Clinical Fact Sheet", you'll get a 2-page .pdf file.

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/assets/docu ... sa-eng.pdf

It has "Smard Data".....like the earlier model.

In this "gallery" of pictures.....

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/fl ... u=products

.....the third picture from the left on the bottom row of pictures shows a card and slot. Your machine SHOULD have that, and if it doesn't, tell the DME you want the card and card slot.

Forgot something....
Here's the instructions for getting into the Setup on that machine:

1. Accessing the Clinical Menu

Turn on the device and wait until the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen appears on the LCD.
At this stage you can adjust the ramp/settling time.

Press the DOWN and RIGHT keys simultaneously for 3 seconds to access the clinical menu.

2. Changing Options and Settings.

Press the LEFT (menu) key to access the SETTINGS menu screen.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through the RESULTS, OPTIONS and SERVICING menu screens.

From a menu screen, use the LEFT (enter) key to access the parameters in that menu.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through menu parameters.

Use the LEFT key to view or change each parameter setting as required.

Press the RIGHT (exit) key until you return to the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen.

Any of the S8 users on the forum can walk you through getting your nightly data out of the machine......to display on the LCD.

Den

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:04 pm

Den~

Thanks for you reply. Yes, my machine does have the card and it does have the slot on the back of the machine to put it in. I also find that there is a Rescan card reader available through cpap.com. The problem I am running into is that everyone is telling me (everyone being the respirtory therapist and customer service of cpap.com) is that in order to have the card reader read the info that comes off of the Resmed S8 ELite II I need the 3.5 version of software. At this point, cpap.com only has the 3.3 version and I have not been able to find a supplier who has the 3.5 version.

The problem I am having is not a lack of data cards, not the lack of a card reader, but the correct software appears to not be available for patients yet.
I am not sure if I am explaining this clearly, but I am continuing to peruse the internet looking for a provider of the software.

Let me know if you are aware of something different. Thanks a bunch!

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:06 pm

Oh, by the way, I am able to get the nightly data off of the machine as it works the same way as my old S7 Elite did. Interestingly enough though, the resp. therapist who came out to my home today said that this was not possible either so I am not sure what to believe.

As usual, you guys are my greatest source of information.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:08 pm

Steph,

From what I've seen of the ResScan software printouts (displayed on the forum), they're hard to understand......and others have suggested that getting the information off the LCD is just about as informative.

I think I found the instructions to get the data on the LCD.....

"With most ResMed machines, if you want to quickly check your nightly results in the little window the next morning through the User menu (not the clinical menu) here's how:

1. Hold down the right arrow button.
2. While holding it down, press the left arrow button and hold it down, too...you're now holding both buttons down together.
3. After a few seconds, the words "Efficacy Data" "day"will appear in the window. Release the two buttons.
4. Press the Left button for "Enter".

Den

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:10 pm

skjansen wrote:Oh, by the way, I am able to get the nightly data off of the machine as it works the same way as my old S7 Elite did. Interestingly enough though, the resp. therapist who came out to my home today said that this was not possible either so I am not sure what to believe.

As usual, you guys are my greatest source of information.

How many times have we discussed on this forum about what to believe from those folks?????? LOL

Far too many of them don't know what they're talking about and too many of them are lying.

Den

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:11 pm

Thanks Den. Perhaps I do not need the software if the reports are difficult to read. I am just trying to make sure I am able to get the best data I can since I am moving overseas and will be without a doc at least for a short time.

If the reports do not provide any better info than I can get on a daily basis I don't think I will waste my money on software.

It just seems that so many people have some incredible data to work with that I just have not been able to get.

I probably should have ask for a completely different brand. This whole cpap think is such a crap shoot!!

Thanks again for your help!

OK . . .I am upset now...Resmed Elite II

OK . . .I am upset now...Resmed Elite II

I could be wrong but ...