DME fixes SD card to self-destruct?

[kaiasgram]

Does she have a modem?

No.

[wasserware]

The DME is blowing hot air! I've changed the pressure many times on my elite with the same SD card in it and never had any problems accessing the data!

[kaiasgram]

The DME is blowing hot air! I've changed the pressure many times on my elite with the same SD card in it and never had any problems accessing the data!

Hi wasserware. No question DMEs blow hot air. And we all know we can change our pressure without hurting the SD card. But my question is still, does the technology exist to deliberately rig the machine and/or card such that the card gets wiped out when the patient changes the pressure on the machine.

Maybe I'll call ResMed tech support tomorrow -- if they have anything interesting to say about it -- or if they'll speak to me at all (!) -- I'll post a report.

[wasserware]

The DME is blowing hot air! I've changed the pressure many times on my elite with the same SD card in it and never had any problems accessing the data!

Hi wasserware. No question DMEs blow hot air. And we all know we can change our pressure without hurting the SD card. But my question is still, does the technology exist to deliberately rig the machine and/or card such that the card gets wiped out when the patient changes the pressure on the machine.

Maybe I'll call ResMed tech support tomorrow -- if they have anything interesting to say about it -- or if they'll speak to me at all (!) -- I'll post a report.

Technically this is possible if they program it in the firmware but a DME will be unable to do so. It has to come from ResMED themselves and and there are really no reasons for them to do so. If this is really the case, you will see reports of wiped SD cards much more often on the forums.

[blakepro]

The most common cause of memory card corruption is when you remove it from the computer or machine WHILE its writing data to it. Well, that and viruses that try to inject themselves into every storage device you connect to your computer...

[archangle]

Hi wasserware. No question DMEs blow hot air. And we all know we can change our pressure without hurting the SD card. But my question is still, does the technology exist to deliberately rig the machine and/or card such that the card gets wiped out when the patient changes the pressure on the machine.

Maybe I'll call ResMed tech support tomorrow -- if they have anything interesting to say about it -- or if they'll speak to me at all (!) -- I'll post a report.

It's highly unlikely anything that obviously malicious would be done. A smart DME would be able to tell you'd changed the pressure from the data on the SD card, so there's no reason to make it corrupt the card.

Even the PRS1 "booby trap" isn't "malicious" in that it does anything wrong, it just keeps the machine settings where the technician set them.

[kaiasgram]

ResMed tech support couldn't help much with this. They said if changing the pressure had corrupted the card, an error message would have appeared on the machine's display screen. There was no error message.

In that case my friend didn't really corrupt the card, but still her doc's office couldn't get any data from it. Which the DME knew was going to happen without even seeing the card, because they gave her a new card to replace the first one with -- just because she mentioned to them that she had changed her pressure. She didn't change the pressure after putting the second card in, and the doc's office got all the data off the second card.

I think this will just have to go down as an unsolved mystery. But thanks to all who suggested possible explanations. I wish my friend would work with a different DME -- this one gives me the creeps!

[Pugsy]

but still her doc's office couldn't get any data from it. Which the DME knew was going to happen without even seeing the card,

Did your friend actually watch them try to get the data from the SD card?

[kaiasgram]

but still her doc's office couldn't get any data from it. Which the DME knew was going to happen without even seeing the card,

Did your friend actually watch them try to get the data from the SD card?

Hard to let go of a good mystery, isn't it Columbo? She said that she was sitting right there watching when the doc's assistant put the cards in. She said that she explained why she had two cards -- because the DME told her she'd corrupted the first card by changing her pressure. Doc's assistant printed off some sheets and gave them to the doc and the doc showed them to her. My friend says, "I started using the machine in December and these only show form Jan 8th onward." Doc replied that was all that was on the cards. Friend said "I guess that means I did corrupt the first one by changing the pressure" and the doc said "apparently so."

[akcpapguy]

There is no "magic" setting that the DME can set to make your card corrupt after a setting change, period of time, how many dogs you have, how many times you pass gas in your sleep or any other "tinfoil hat" theory you can come up with. Everytime I have encountered a corrupt Resmed card it has been due to a client/physician changing the pressure setting after the device has been set by a prescription applied from the SD card. This has been reported to Resmed and according to our sales rep is a bug that is being worked on. Resmed Tech support also onformed me that certains versions of Rescan paired with certain versions of device firmware can produce a corrupt card either prior to or after download. This is currently fixed in the latest version, however the problem is that many Physician offices and DME's are probably not operating on the most recent version of Rescan. One could ask why this is and I present two reasons why this might be 1. Resmed does not inform people of changes or updates to Rescan, couple this with the fact that many DME's purchase their PAP devices and accessories from clearing houses instead of directly from Resmed. In this scenario the DME has no connection with Resmed at all besides the fact they sell the devices and accessories. 2. Many computer software these days updates itself when a new version releases by default, those who own smartphones know exactly what I am talking about. Many of you here may disagree with me and say no i don't let my stuff do that I update it myself, well thats because many on here are control freaks (thats ok I proudly stand next to you and raise my hand!). However as a society we have decided that we do not want to be bothered by such mundane tasks of everyday life and let those software updates just automate for us. This is not the case for Rescan software, there is no auto-update feature on Rescan, to my knowledge there isn't even a way to run a check to see if there is a newer version. So consequently nobody is checking for updates and nobody is getting informed when there are updates.

Let’s move on to Respironics, the same two principles apply here for updating the software, however, the main reason for corrupt or non readable card here is an old version of Encore Pro. Yes if you set the device prescription thru the card you are not able to change the pressure with the card in the device and if you remove the card and change the pressure it will be reset once you put the card with the prescription back into the device. If there is a prescription on the card it will overwrite the device prescription EVERYTIME this is not a setting controlled by the DME it is coded into the firmware on the device. There are ways around this and I’m sure many of you can figure it out and pass it along to those in need. Always remember though, if your device is on rent with the DME and you change your pressure without a physicians order they can (and I know some that do) report you as non compliant to your insurance. Once they do this your insurance will more than likely stop paying the rental and they will pass the changes on to you or request that you return the device. Once again I will say that I do not advocate this practice and it is not something that we do in our office, however I do know some DME offices that do.

[chunkyfrog]

Akcpapguy, that makes sense.
Just curious, is there any training requirement to stay up to date; like there is with school teachers?

[kaiasgram]

Everytime I have encountered a corrupt Resmed card it has been due to a client/physician changing the pressure setting after the device has been set by a prescription applied from the SD card.

Mystery solved. Thanks akcpapguy. The scenario you describe above fits her story. I don't know why she didn't see an error message when she changed her pressure but perhaps an error message wouldn't occur in this situation.

So, when the machine is initially set up the way you describe, from the SD card, then neither patient nor physician can change the pressure from the clinical menu without corrupting the SD card. That would force the patient to have to bring the card in to the DME (or doc's office if they're set up with the right equipment and software) for every pressure change. That's what my friend will have to do, at least until she's passed the compliance period.

Thanks for the thorough explanation of how things work. Besides helping me figure out what happened, you've provided a lot of useful info that will no doubt be of interest to others.

[akcpapguy]

Not that I know of CF, there is plenty of training out there from both companies on how to use the software however.

[chunkyfrog]

Kind of what I thought.
Thanks.

[Cpap momma]

Resmed cards are famous for being corrupt. Downloading via Easycare will show if the card is corrupt.

The data is stored on the machine. Even if the card was corrupt, inserting a new card will gather all the data.

Dme's do not get paid by pt visit. The clinicians time is included in the equipment cost.