Any good DME in SE Florida? (But Not Apria)

[RhoXS]

For a number of years I have had sleep issues and, to my surprise, was diagnosed with sleep apnea last December. I was desaturating down to 84%. The pulmonary physician sent me to an Apria outlet in West Palm Beach, Florida for a CPAP set at 10 cm H2O. I was certainly naive (and still am) about the equipment but I am not stupid. I directed a number of questions to the technician about options that might have been available to me and all were politely but firmly stonewalled. Essentially I was told that the only equipment available to me was what was prescribed by the physician. My instincts told me this was not correct and I was about to ask to see the prescription. However, before I could do so, I noticed the technician quickly dispose of one of the instruction papers in the box. When he absolutely refused to show me what he threw away (the instructions for setting up the unit), I finally lost my temper, and left without the CPAP. I will do without a CPAP before I let myself be subject to that kind of disrespect.

Well, I still need the thing but I will not go back to Apria and again put up with that disrespectful BS. Can anyone recommend another DME that they have had a good experience with? I live in Stuart but anywhere south of Vero will suffice.

[drubin007]

im still a noob here, but what is a DME?

I am in South East Florida... If you want to know who my ENT is or the sleep center I went to pm me...

[SleepyHead09]

sorry i can't help you since my dme choice of DME is Apria. i know when i go to get my equiment i am going to insist that i be new open in the box in front of me. i want to make sure it is new. if i am paying full price it should be. still got 1 week to go before i have my doc appt with doc who ordered sleep test to get the results. i really can't wait to get my cpap i slept so good the i did my cpap sleep study.

[RhoXS]

DME = Durable Medical Equipment supplier.

Per Wikipedia "Durable medical equipment is a term of art used to describe any medical equipment used in the home to aid in a better quality of living. It is a benefit included in most Insurances... . The term “durable medical equipment” includes iron lungs, oxygen tents, Nebulizers, CPAP, catheters, hospital beds, and wheelchairs ..., but only where the use of such a vehicle is determined to be necessary on the basis of the individual's medical and physical condition..."

Based on my experience, and as reported in many other threads in this forum, Apria appears to be a large national chain with mostly very poor customer service.

[drubin007]

Got ya. I can offer where I got my equipment from, and so far they have been pretty good...

I would not say great, in so far as my first mask was a nose mask and I had little to no direction on fitting or adjusting it...

They called a few days later to follow up and I said once the blood stops dripping down the bridge of my nose I will be much better. They were very accomodating and had the office call me the next day. They were a little upset that I did not recieve more instruction and put me on the nasal pillows. I keep calling them that, I think that is what they are? the thing that plugs your nostrils, goes around your head and has a build in chin strap. I looked at the paperwork that it came with yesterday to see what it actually was (also so I could change the settings on my cpap device) but could not get confirmation on what it was...

In any event, I go to a place called Pulmocair. They are in Delray Beach (Florida) and their # is 800 336 5667.
Looking at my paperwork, it looks like they have locationsin Delray Beach, Hollywood, and Orlando. Also a location in Kentucky.

My primary insurance is Empire (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) and they take that.

hope this helps, and glad I can start giving something back!

[RhoXS]

Just a bump hoping to get a response.

[drubin007]

Just a bump hoping to get a response.

read the post above yours