Did you have to wait to get into the DME?

[ChrisC]

Just out of curiosity.. how normal is it to have to wait almost 2 weeks after being prescribed equipment to get into the DME? Just irks me that I'm so eager to get started, and it's just one big waiting game. After being thoroughly educated about how bad OSA is, and having my sleep doc talk about my case being very severe, I have been 100% ready to accept/start treatment. I'd definitely say the level of compliance in the general public is negatively affected by just how long the process takes. If I hadn't been able to get into canceled appointments at the sleep lab, that part of the process would have taken me 6 months minimum!!

Is there really *that* much that the technician at the DME has to do with me that they need to book appointments 2 weeks away? If I wasn't going through ADP funding for the machine, I would have just been buying my stuff through CPAP.com and setting it all up myself. I really wish I could have just called up and said "This is what I want, I'll be in to pick it up tomorrow". If I go in and have someone just reading from the instruction manual (like I could have done) I'm going to be furious that I was delayed 2 weeks. Likewise, if it turns into a "compliance package" sales presentation, I'm going to be equally impressed.

If I go in there and they have an Escape all ready and "set up" for me too, I'll be half tempted to just turn around and walk out. Although, I'd probably have to wait weeks for another appointment elsewhere!

Grrr.. don't mind me, I'm just being grumpy and frustrated! I'm generally very easy-going, but I don't take it lightly when I feel like people are dragging their feet when it comes to my health..

[OutaSync]

I know thta this won't make you feel better, but I had an appointment the next day with my DME and left with my equipment. They did try to give me a plain CPAP and I insisted on a data capable machine, and go it.

[Hawthorne]

I live in Ontario and, when I bought from DME (6+ years ago now), as I remember I had an apointment in about 2 days.

If you have a good DME, they have to make appointments because, if they are like mine, they arrange for about an hour for instruction on the machine, its use and care and mask choosing and fitting.

In my case I was also able to pick out the machine I wanted. I used the ADP funding and, at that time, my extended health plan paid 100% of whatever I bought. If my extended health plan had not covered 100% of the rest I could still get that machine if I paid the difference. The one I bought then was top of the line but autos were not available then.

Last year, I bought an auto online and paid for it myself since I wanted an auto and knew, even after a new sleep study I would not meet the crtieria for an auto.

I've gone beyond answering your question but was anticipating you will not be happy if they have an Escape set up for you. You should not be happy if that's what they do. You will be wanting at least, a data capable cpap machine (if your prescription is not for an auto), I expect!

Because the GOOD DMEs in Ontario arrange an hour appointment for instruction about the machine and mask choosing and fitting, appointments need to be set. Depending on how busy they are, it would not be unreasonable to have to wait 2 weeks to get the whole thing - instruction, mask choosing and fitting, etc.

[LinkC]

I waited almost week from my followup with the sleep doc (she faxed the 'script to the DME) until the DME called me. I was on pins and needles all the time, wondering if I was gonna die before it arrived. (I didn't know data from shinola at the time and cheerfully accepted what they gave me. That's been fixed now!)

She wanted to deliver it 3 days later. When I expressed alarm at the wait, it turns out one of their techs lives in the next subdivision over from me and stopped by on her way home. So I was blissfully tossing, turning, and leaking that very night! But at least I didn't die while waiting...

[ChrisC]

I know thta this won't make you feel better, but I had an appointment the next day with my DME and left with my equipment. They did try to give me a plain CPAP and I insisted on a data capable machine, and go it.

That's the problem, I guess. . I've heard a lot of people talk about getting a trial machine right after their first sleep study even.. and I'm almost 3 months after my initial sleep study and have nothing to show for it. My AHI was 70+, so I've always been a little miffed that I've been waiting so long after being told how "severely severe" my sleep apnea is. Like you, LinkC, I've been wondering if I'm doing irreparable damage by not having equipment after finding out I need it!!

Hawthorne: excellent points. I guess, in hindsight, I probably don't want a DME that will have my equipment in a bag at the counter and will be rushing me out the door after I fork over some dough. I'm going to Medigas in Kingston for my equipment - where did you end up going in London? I'm anxiously waiting to see if I qualify for an APAP, or I may just be ordering one from CPAP.com anyhow and keeping my ADP'able straight CPAP machine as a backup. Yeah, if it's an Escape on the table waiting for me.. I'm definitely going to be a bit ticked!

Great personal service you got, LinkC. That's the sort of service I give to my patients: whether they're buying bath safety or ambulatory things. I've spent a good few evenings past my 'working hours' personally delivering/installing equipment for a customer who was in a pinch. That being said, I know what level of service I hold myself to when dealing with customers.. I just really want to find a DME like me, I guess!

[TheDreamer]

I guess I was lucky....I walked across the parking lot from the doctor's office to the DME building...and came out with a everything except the humidifier (they were out).

Knowing what I know now...I wouldn't have been that fast at getting the script filled. But, I lucked out that I got the Remstar M Series Pro. Though the RT is a believer that patients should have full data capable machines to monitor their progress with.

OTOH, if I had waited...it probably would've cost me much more. I got the stuff during the last couple days to get in at the 10% co-insurance level.

Of course, OP is in Canada...where things are slower. My mother is always complaining about having to wait and wait and wait for her medical problems....yet she thinks the healthcare system in Canada is one of many reasons I should move back.

The Dreamer.

[birdshell]

I waited for about a month. It really seemed ironic to me that I had to sign a waiver of responsibility, stating that I knew driving with untreated apnea was a hazard. (I drove myself to, and home from, the sleep lab.) Then, I had to wait for a month to get treatment? Whose responsibility was that supposed to be?

I found it frustrating, but didn't know any better--although my subsequent dealings with the DME were not too exceptional. I'm glad to hear that others are having shorter waits, although I know that some have waited longer.

Karen,
Who isn't waiting now

[dieselgal]

I had already found this forum by the time I got my prescription for my CPAP and I had the Dr. just give it to me so I could take it and shop around. I knew enough from here to demand something that was data capable but not enough to realize I really wanted the Auto. Anyway I went to 3 different DME's before I found one tht didn't look at me like I was insane for thinking I could get a machine of my choice.
I ended up with a DME that gave me the ResMed Elite S8 (all the while telling me that it was highly unusual for someone to need or use that level of equipment) but I told him I would take my Script and find somewhere else. I ended up having a decent relationship with him because he realizes that I want what I want and don't have to take what he wants to clear out of the store.
However right after I got started I learned more and more and ended up buying an M-series auto on my own from Cpap.com and got a great deal and that is where I intend to buy all of my equipment from now on. They will match prices, deliver very quickly and they usually have what I am looking for. If you don't want to deal with cpap.com for your own reasons there are always other online stores that are reputable as well. You can file with your insurance and probably be out less than you would have if you went with a local DME.
Thankfully I had found this site before I had to do battle and I am sure glad about that!

[Hawthorne]

ChrisC - I went to Western Pro Health but don't know if they are in Kingston. They are very close to where I live.

The thing about the whole business in Ontario (London anyway) is the wait to get to the point of seeing a DME.

A person has to be very proactive here or you wait months for the diagnosis sleep study and then more months for the titration study and more months for the followup with the Specialist. It was over 6 months in 2002 when I was first diagnosed and about 10 months for my sleep study last April (followup with the Specialist in August). I was glad I went ahead and bought an apap online in the middle of all this wait time last year.

Had I not called and gone on cancellation lists and enlisted the help of my GP, I don't know how much longer I would have had to wait in 2002! It has only become worse!

[slapmeawake]

I had to wait 4 weeks to get my equipment so 2 weeks sounds good to me. Good Luck.

[boblong]

I didn't wait, based on the info here, I went straigh to CPAP.com. I contacted a DME for a travel machine and mask fitting, etc. It took the DME right at a week to call back. When I went in, I had my printout for the previous week and said here is what I want. The RT looked at the data like it was greek to her, and said why do you want all this, do you know what it means. Silly me, I should have said, no, explain it to me. (I seriously doubt she could.) I doubt that I will use any of the DME's in this area once BCBS finishes the equip rental.

Bob

[ChrisC]

Weeeeeeeeeeeelll... I'm one day away from going in. I'll have my stuff this time tomorrow!! I'm still waiting for my sleep lab to 'analyze' my report from my titration to see if I'm eligible for APAP under ADP (I meet the 10cm pressure, but they need to see a deviation of 4cm between sleeping positions). My DME said it would be no problem to take home a straight CPAP tomorrow and then exchange it for an APAP if my prescription changed.

Annnnd.. there's no problems at all having the S8 Elite II as my machine (or the autoset if it gets changed to APAP). I was proactive and called on Friday to tell them what machine/mask I'd like and the sales guy on the phone said it was no issue at all. I'm Dealing with Medigas in Kingston.

[rjjay]

Its easy to blame the DME. I agree there are some DMEs who are bad but generally were not. As far as wait times go, its usually the insurance comp fault due to precertification. Some insurances require a copy of your sleep study be faxed to them so there board can review it and approve or disapprove. I'm usually happy to set a patient the day I get the RX, if the patient agrees to pay if insurance disapproves. Seems the more you try to help people avoid unnecessary bills the more they fault you.

[Froro]

Just for info sake. I'm in Mississauga Ontario. I got my script from the sleep doc on a Thursday (late afternoon), was at the DME office 9am Monday morning.

They tried to squeeze me in Friday but I couldn't make the time they had available. I think it all depends on where you are.