doety wrote: After reading as much on the site as I could, it seems that Resperonics is not the way to go (sp?). People seem to like Resmed, the S9 series, with auto set advantage.
I have no idea which brand Kaiser has contracted to offer through which ever DME supplier they have chosen. In all honesty all the major brands will do an excellent job as far as their intended goal which is of course...prevent the apnea events from occurring. The major differences in all the brands are perhaps different algorithms, some various comfort features and the amount of data they collect and availability of any software to easily monitor the data. Here on this forum you will find that the major players are Respironics, ResMed, DeVilbiss and Fisher & Paykel. Each brand will have a basic no frills model up to the upper end models with all the comfort features and full data scoring capability.
What we complain more about here is the basic models that don't offer the ability to score full data. The basic (el cheapo) models will only gather hours of use and no other data that might be useful to evaluate the level of therapy effectiveness. We call them "bricks" because while they probably do a great job with preventing the apnea events....you have zero way of knowing what is going on beyond "how you feel" and if you happen to not feel the miracle overnight like you are a new person, you have zero way to try to figure out what might be going on to keep you from feeling so great.
If you have full data available along with easily obtainable software then you stand a better chance of figuring out why you might not feel so great.
I would suggest that you read the blog that one of our forum members has started. Read about which machines have full data and which machines don't and which ones has easily used software.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/ Also she has another section on what you need to know before you meet your DME.
The 2 main players are Respironics and ResMed machines. Both are well known and both have new technology machines with data on the SD cards that can be used with software. You just have to educate yourself on which models offer full data and which models only offer basic hours of use on that SD card. Don't rely on the presence of a SD card to guarantee full data.
Respironics machines are excellent machines. I don't know where you got the idea that they were inferior because they are not inferior at all. ResMed may have some different features than the Respironics machines but they both are extremely effective and comfortable to use.
Both brands have the basic el cheapo brick models.
I have used a Respironics machine for nearly 3 years now. Last month I got a chance to try a ResMed machine. I am going to be honest. They are both quality machines and both treated my OSA very effectively and the minor differences in algorithms and other features were not an issue at all. Each one has something a little different than the other. Each one has a couple of pros and cons.
When you are researching machines....stick with the latest technology machines.
Respironics PR System One machines and the ResMed S9 machines. Older machines did a great job but the SD cards makes using software so much easier and less costly.
The machines to avoid.....in the ResMed S9 models...anything with "Escape" in the model name.
....in the Respironics models ....anything with "Plus" in the model name (not to be confused with the plus + at the end of Flex options.
If it were me I would first find out if I have to use a single specific DME to have my insurance pay the bill. Then I would go to that DME and find out what brand they normally supply and then which model. Then go from there with my research. Some DMEs will supply top of the line in the brand...some go el cheapo. If you have a choice of DMEs that are part of your insurance network...then go check each one to see what they offer. I wouldn't worry about a fight to get the machine I wanted until I saw for sure there was going to be a fight.
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.
