Compliance Report Consistently Inaccurate

[Ivalen]

Tomorrow is my yearly visit - and the compliance report will once again show inconsistent usage.

I deal with the same issue every year - I have used my CPAP every night for five years and yet the report shows 3-4 months at a time, 8.5 hours average use, and then 2-3 weeks of 0 use.

There are no repeating patterns - the data just isn't there. Of course the Doctor always likes to go in to his little spiele, and every time I tell him the software/data recording method sucks because I use the CPAP every night.

How is the data really laid out on that smartcard? I unplug my CPAP from the power every morning - so unless there is a hyperaccurate clock built in to the thing, then I have no idea how it keeps track of the date and time.

I will follow this up with my 'visit' tomorrow - I'm going to request photocopies of the results, 'cause if the data isn't accurate, then how can it be trusted?

[Wulfman...]

Tomorrow is my yearly visit - and the compliance report will once again show inconsistent usage.

I deal with the same issue every year - I have used my CPAP every night for five years and yet the report shows 3-4 months at a time, 8.5 hours average use, and then 2-3 weeks of 0 use.

There are no repeating patterns - the data just isn't there. Of course the Doctor always likes to go in to his little spiele, and every time I tell him the software/data recording method sucks because I use the CPAP every night.

How is the data really laid out on that smartcard? I unplug my CPAP from the power every morning - so unless there is a hyperaccurate clock built in to the thing, then I have no idea how it keeps track of the date and time.

I will follow this up with my 'visit' tomorrow - I'm going to request photocopies of the results, 'cause if the data isn't accurate, then how can it be trusted?

That may be your problem. In some machines it needs some time (anywhere from an hour or until after Noon) to summarize and formulate the data from the night before. In other cases, the number of hours on the meters and the data retained in the "odometer" should be able to substantiate your usage.

You haven't filled out your profile......please do so.
These machines are different and have different routines with these various circumstances. Most are pretty darned accurate with what they keep track of and have internal clocks and usage meters.


Den

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[sc0ttt]

Are you checking the data frequently yourself?

If you could spot the problem in the first day or two, you could log your actual compliance and show that the recording is inaccurate in real time.

It's also possible the recording is being erased at some point somehow, so if you have records of actual use before they get erased you could use them to show a machine problem.

But if you only check compliance before doctor visits it'll be too late to document anything that happened months ago.

[Ivalen]

Thanks for the replies - I don't check myself, not sure how. It's a smartcard and the CPAP machine itself is locked. I just give the card to my local provider and they produce the report.

[The Latinist]

Thanks for the replies - I don't check myself, not sure how. It's a smartcard and the CPAP machine itself is locked. I just give the card to my local provider and they produce the report.

The machine is not locked. Let us know the brand and model of your machine, and we can show you how to access all your data and even change your settings should you require it.

I second Den's point about unplugging your machine. Probably not a good idea, especially if you're doing it immediately when you get up. These machines actually do their data calculations during the day. And it's not really necessary. They don't use that much power in standby mode.

[Wulfman...]

Thanks for the replies - I don't check myself, not sure how. It's a smartcard and the CPAP machine itself is locked. I just give the card to my local provider and they produce the report.

Then don't criticize the machine's capabilities or lack thereof.
There should be a name and model on the top of the machine and/or model numbers on the bottom (don't turn it over if the humidifier tank is attached).

They can't "LOCK" the machine.
And, you need to learn more about what you have. That's partly what this forum is about......helping the users to become more aware of what their therapy and the equipment is all about.

I would think that after five years, the machine would be YOURS and you wouldn't need to be providing compliance information to them.


Den

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[Ivalen]

Not criticizing the machine Wulfie-poo, I'm criticizing the report. The machine works great and performs the job I need it for very well.

Even though I probably own the machine by now after 5 years.... I still need supplies.

I will get the machine make and model in a bit.

As for locking the machine - well without the secret knowledge or CPAP-fu, I explored the menu structure in about five seconds only to hit a brick wall.

And regarding leaving the machine plugged in all the time - since I consistently unplug it after waking up in the morning, I'm surprised the report contains any data period then. This is all goodness.

Stay tuned.

[robysue]

Ivalen ,

I'm going to hazard a guess: Is your PAP machine a Resmed S8 or a Respironics M-Series? They both have proprietary data cards. Perhaps the problem is caused by a corrupt card: As long as the data is not written to the bad spot, it's there. But when the PAP decides to write data to that bad spot, it's missing in action. Have you ever tried swapping the card out with another card?