irritated with my DME (Pulmonary Solutions)

[ogg]

This provider was selected by my Doctor, and i was given no choice, however the DME has the worse customer service in the world. They call asking questions they know the answers to, like what kind of machine i have, or they call for compliance, but they have a modem on my CPAP and download its data daily, at this point i need to find another solution, since the only thing PS seems to do well is annoy me. Anyone have a good suggestion for a provider on-line or local to the bay area?

[ems]

Please check your PM box.

[houndlover]

Have you asked them or discussed with them that you would like the check up calls to stop?

Honestly, any good DME company should be doing these things. Yeah, the calls can be annoying but it is better than a DME you can't get a hold of and that won't return your messages when you need something.

[ogg]

Have you asked them or discussed with them that you would like the check up calls to stop?

Honestly, any good DME company should be doing these things. Yeah, the calls can be annoying but it is better than a DME you can't get a hold of and that won't return your messages when you need something.

I will have to disagree with some points, yes however i have asked them to stop. I don't mind them asking how things are going, its when they start asking questions like how many hours I'm using the machine or what make/model of machine i have. those questions are wasting my time and very disrespectful, since they know this data already. a better question would be i see your not using the machine every night? or how can we help you get more hours of sleep? since they have this data its not to much to ask a DME to at least have them look at the case notes before calling and wasting my valuable time at work.

it also should be noted i did e-mail their complaints department had never got any response of any kind..

[ems]

I've never had a call from my DME asking me any questions like the ones you mentioned. When I first started this therapy back in 2011, I did bring my SD card in so they could check compliance. They would have picked it up but since they were only five minutes from me, I decided to bring it to them.

I've never had unnecessary calls like the ones you mentioned. I did have a problem getting a particular mask a while back, but my doctor got involved and I got the mask.

[ogg]

my DME added a cellular modem to my machine, and they download all the compliance data daily, so they know I'm using the machine....

[ems]

my DME added a cellular modem to my machine, and they download all the compliance data daily, so they know I'm using the machine....

I'm glad I didn't have to deal with that... would have bothered me greatly!

During the period of time that I rented the machine, they were especially nice to me - not so much now - but still better than most I've heard about.

[ogg]

the modem doesn't bother me as much, its the fact the DME doesn't use the data they are collecting. Im not sure my insurance would be so happy to know they are paying for a modem and then the DME doesn't use its data for compliance, but instead relies on calling the patient to collect the data. in addition i feel i should have on-line access to that data as well, but thats a different topic.

[ems]

the modem doesn't bother me as much, its the fact the DME doesn't use the data they are collecting. Im not sure my insurance would be so happy to know they are paying for a modem and then the DME doesn't use its data for compliance, but instead relies on calling the patient to collect the data. in addition i feel i should have on-line access to that data as well, but thats a different topic.

You could always "inform" your insurance company.

When my DME read my SD card for compliance, they always gave me a copy of the report with full data (how I was doing). Now I use Sleepyhead to let me know what's happening - along with the once a year I see my sleep doctor.

[Guest]

my DME added a cellular modem to my machine, and they download all the compliance data daily, so they know I'm using the machine....

in addition i feel i should have on-line access to that data as well, but thats a different topic.

Not a different topic at all, didn't you have to sign an agreement for them to add this modem? Which really just denies you access to your own data? This data is cover by HIPAA.

I would find out how to rescind (revoke) that agreement.

[Thewino]

Hey Ogg,

I thought that I ran into the worst customer service with the DME my physician choose. I dropped them within twenty days. I just cannot comprehend giving money to people who treat their customers so poorly.

I was speaking with my insurance company about a knee brace I was having made and happened to mention the abrasive attitudes at my local DME. My insurance company said, "no problem. We will just switch you to a different one."

My insurance company called me back the next day with a new and much improved DME that they would start covering my equipment from.

Good Luck,
TheWino

[ogg]

the DME has responded to my complaints, and seems to be taking them under advisement, I'm hoping they will improve. So I'm going to give them a chance to make some changes and we shall see if they improve.