How often do you download your CPAP data?

Perpetual · Post by **Perpetual** » Wed May 30, 2007 1:47 pm

For those users without the Encore software or any other software, how often do you take your card in to have it downloaded and does your DME give you a copy of the results?

I am taking my card in today to have it downloaded and when I called the rep said she would give me a new card so I could go home with a card. I got the impression she wouldn't be downloading the information while I was there. I really wanted to see the info then. Am I expecting too much? I am starting to get irritated with this DME but maybe I am being too harsh?

What are your experiences with your local DME?

Edit: title, removed caps.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): DME

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed May 30, 2007 4:33 pm

Neither my MD or DME can or will read the card. I got the software so I'd know what was going on. It saves detailed data for 7 days so I download once a week.

Brenda

Perpetual · Post by **Perpetual** » Wed May 30, 2007 5:17 pm

Well, I dropped off my card and prior to going, I talked to my insurance company (PersonalCare) about when I can get a new mask. They said that there is no schedule so I can get one now (since I can't get the Mirage Quattro) to seal. Tomorrow, the DME is going to let me take home about 4 masks, comfort gel, activa and (2) nasal pillows that I liked. They said that I could try them over the weekend to see which I liked best before ordering. I thought this was really cool of them so they have redeemed themselves for now.

As for the card, DME is going to download all of the info and go over it with me tomorrow when I pick-up the assortment of masks. The CSR said I could bring it in whenever I want to have it downloaded.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed May 30, 2007 9:22 pm

Very nice. If you need help with getting any of the masks to work for you just post.

Brenda

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Wed May 30, 2007 9:51 pm

Very nice of them to let you try 4 masks! Looks like you'll be taking a lot of test naps this weekend

Good luck and post if you need links to mask fitting tips.

Oh and by the way... I download my data daily, that way I can remember what went on the day before if I had a bad night. Which is pretty rare these days, thank goodness. I freak if I get a "high" AHI reading of 1 ....

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Thu May 31, 2007 2:06 am

Forgive the pun, but I like to download my data perpetually.

Perpetual · Post by **Perpetual** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:50 am

Bonnie:

I'd love to be able to download it at home daily. Right now though, I can't spend the money on the software and reader. (Still paying off the sleep study and equipment that wasn't covered by insurance - deductible - bleh!).

blarg:

lol.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:21 am

I know what you mean about the expense. I was one of the lucky ones who were able to down load the program for free and the card reader was $32 plus a few bucks for the adapter from Radio Shack. Do what you can to save up for it now. It is the best way to see everything and tweak to ultimately find the settings you need for your therapy. After doing this for almost 2 years I feel it has been a big help (along with a lot of people here) in getting my 100+ events per hour down to .05 or less in a shorter amount of time than if I had to rely on every few weeks with a DME downloading for me. I remember going into the DME and asking them about programs and card readers I learned about from people here. I was told "there is no such programs and if there would be it would cost THOUSANDS of dollars" I knew then I had to rely on me not them

tiredofbeingsleepy · Post by **tiredofbeingsleepy** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:34 am

So the smart card only stores data for 7 days?

I am in the "3 month trial period" where my insurance company is interested in compliance (and only compliance) before they will pay their part. My DME will send me a new card every 30 days, and I will send them the old one, from which they download the data. Of course they are interested only in compliance. I will ask for copies of the data (and told they would give it to me) as I, obviously, want to know how the therapy is working.
(I have only had this machine that can record data for 2 weeks so have not switched out cards yet)
So when the DME does get my card to download, it's only going to give me the last 7 days of therapy??? Dang it. I would like to be able to have more data than a weeks worth!

I have not gotten the software yet as the DME told me that the data is erased from the card everytime it's downloaded. I don't want to risk the insurance company saying there isn't enough data and avoid paying their portion.
Once they pay up I will definitely get the software and monitor things myself.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): DME, Smart Card

Bert_Mathews · Post by **Bert_Mathews** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:56 am

Neither my MD or DME can or will read the card.
And hen I took in printouts they didn't have anybody that could read them in the office and the printouts had to be sent out to a READER????
I'm NOT a QUALIFIED reader but the printouts are NOT That hard to understand.
At first I downloaded DAILY but was paranoid about little changes......So now I download weekly and sometimes Bi-weekly and see where I'm at.
My card keeps 500mb of data and the file is only at 43mb from January 8th.
I download it onto three different computers and have a running collection or post.
Haven't had LOSS of any days of data or had a reformat the card??? Many others have had these problems -- -- SO MAYBE I NEED TO KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!

Still LOOKING for the WONDER Mask --BUT-- Improving in health -- Reduced Drugs -- Less trips to the Dr.s Office & STOPPED even talking to the DME!!!

BERT

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:56 am

tiredofbeingsleepy wrote:So the smart card only stores data for 7 days?

It stores detailed data (nightly details) for about a week, but it stores months and months of the compliance info the insurance company is interested in. Neither the insurance company nor the DME, nor most doctors care one whit about the nightly details. As you said, all they are interested in seeing, if anything at all, is "compliance" -- the number of hours you used the machine. The want to see that you use at least 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.

tiredofbeingsleepy wrote:I am in the "3 month trial period" where my insurance company is interested in compliance (and only compliance) before they will pay their part. My DME will send me a new card every 30 days, and I will send them the old one, from which they download the data. Of course they are interested only in compliance. I will ask for copies of the data (and told they would give it to me) as I, obviously, want to know how the therapy is working.
(I have only had this machine that can record data for 2 weeks so have not switched out cards yet)

You can use Encore Pro software and do your own downloads without losing any of the compliance info the insurance company wants to see. All it takes is doing one fairly simple thing after you install Encore Pro. Just change one setting to tell the Encore Pro on your own computer not to erase after download. All the compliance info will remain intact on the card then, no matter how many downloads you do at home between now and when the DME does their monthly downloads.

tiredofbeingsleepy wrote:So when the DME does get my card to download, it's only going to give me the last 7 days of therapy???

Right.

tiredofbeingsleepy wrote: Dang it. I would like to be able to have more data than a weeks worth!

Well, where there's a will.... If you have Encore Pro yourself, you can be doing your own downloads as often as you wish -- without losing a thing on the card that the insurance company and DME want to see. By changing a setting in Encore Pro.

tiredofbeingsleepy wrote:I have not gotten the software yet as the DME told me that the data is erased from the card everytime it's downloaded. I don't want to risk the insurance company saying there isn't enough data and avoid paying their portion.

Well, the DME told you right, up to a point...but didn't tell you the entire story. Perhaps the DME doesn't know the setting can be changed.

The default action of Encore Pro IS to erase the card every time it's downloaded. But you can change that setting in the Encore Pro on your own computer.

Here's how to change the setting so that Encore Pro will not erase the card after each download.

After installing Encore Pro and before you do your first download of the card:

Using Encore Pro version 1.8:

On the Home page in Encore Pro - click Preference at top of the page.

Click System

On the Systems settings menu there's an option to "Keep Compliance Data on SmartCard after Download." Click that. A checkmark will appear in front of that setting when you've clicked to turn it on.

From then on, all your data will remain intact on the card after every download. During each download you'll be asked if that's the action you want to have happen. Just confirm it and there'll be no erasing. All the info will remain on the card just as if it had never been downloaded.

With Encore Pro version 1.6 and earlier:

After installing Encore Pro, go to:

C:\Program Files\Respironics\Encore Pro\Utilities
Doubleclick: "Don't erase Data After download.reg" and click "ok".

There won't be any record on the Smart Card that you've been downloading the card yourself, even if you download it at home every day.

There won't be any record on the Smart Card that you changed the default action of Encore Pro in your own computer, no matter which method of changing the setting you used - 1.8's way, or the previous versions of Encore Pro's way.

The Encore Pro on your DME's computer will still handle the card however their's is set up...presumably still using the original installation default of erasing after every download.

At: viewArticle/Encore-Pro-Respironics-CPAP ... Derek.html

Derek explained that action more fully (in versions of Encore Pro prior to version 1.8 ) when he wrote:

By default, Encore Pro erases all data from the SmartCard after each download. If your RT requires that you send in the card periodically to check compliance, you will want to disable this feature. Respironics provides a pair of simple "scripts" in its Utilities directory (folder) that allow you to change this behavior and download without erasing.

To do this you will need to navigate to the Encore Pro utilities directory through My Computer. If you accepted the default path on installation it will be C:\Program Files\Respironics\Encore Pro\Utilities. In this folder you will find two files:

Don't erase Data After download.reg
and
Erase data after download.reg.

All you have to do to change the behavior of Encore Pro is double-click on the appropriate file. You will be asked to confirm your action.

If you choose to not automatically erase data after download, you will be prompted after each download.

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