1st time APAP purchase, what else do I need to buy???

[NormagiJoy]

We ended up ordering the PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto with Bluetooth, humidifier, heated hose, and a full face mask (ComfortGelBlue with Headgear).
The pricing was just too good to pass up!!!
It should be delivered on Monday.
SleepyHead has been downloaded.
Is there some way I can play around with SleepyHead over the weekend???
Plug in some fake numbers or something???
He has to submit 7 days of data within the next three weeks for compliance, so I need to learn this.
The machine has Bluetooth, would I still need to take the SD card out of the machine to download data for SH???
The clinician manual has been downloaded, what settings should he start with???
(I have the results of his home sleep study)

[palerider]

Is there some way I can play around with SleepyHead over the weekend???
Plug in some fake numbers or something???

no.

The machine has Bluetooth, would I still need to take the SD card out of the machine to download data for SH???

yes

The clinician manual has been downloaded, what settings should he start with???
(I have the results of his home sleep study)

a sleep study has nothing that will help setting up pressures.

set it for 6-20 the first night, then post the results here for advice and adjustment before the second night.

read *ALL THREE PAGES* of this: https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize

[ChicagoGranny]

He has to submit 7 days of data within the next three weeks for compliance, so I need to learn this.

No, you don't need to learn Sleepyhead to produce compliance data. The standard procedure is to take the SD card out of the machine, and bring it to your sleep center. They will produce the reports and submit them to your insurance company.

If you try to submit a compliance report from Sleepyhead, your insurance company is going to be looking at a format they are not familiar with. They will almost certainly reject your report.

Sleepyhead is an excellent tool for optimizing and monitoring your husband's CPAP therapy.

[palerider]

He has to submit 7 days of data within the next three weeks for compliance, so I need to learn this.

compliance for what?

[ChicagoGranny]

compliance for what?

So the doctor doesn't treat her to the rack.

[NormagiJoy]

So the doctor doesn't treat her to the rack.

hahaha. no, it's for his CDL. I was not planning on handing over the SH reports. We should be able to access info from DreamMapper, right??? The "data" (their words) can be faxed or mailed in.

[palerider]

[quoteSo the doctor doesn't treat her to the rack.]

i

hahaha. no, it's for his CDL. I was not planning on handing over the SH reports. We should be able to access info from DreamMapper, right??? The "data" (their words) can be faxed or mailed in.[/quote]

cdl may require reports from encore "official documentation". something to keep in mind.

[ChicagoGranny]

encore

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread ... nly-thread

[NormagiJoy]

@ChicagoGranny...thank you so much for that link, I have bookmarked it to go back and take a longer look at it.

Maybe I am confused by all these names of Software, but was under the impression we would be using DreamMapper. I went to the Respironics website and looked around. Think there is an app for phone, and a download for PC. When the machine comes in it will need to be registered, so I'll be creating an account.

[palerider]

@ChicagoGranny...thank you so much for that link, I have bookmarked it to go back and take a longer look at it.

Maybe I am confused by all these names of Software, but was under the impression we would be using DreamMapper. I went to the Respironics website and looked around. Think there is an app for phone, and a download for PC. When the machine comes in it will need to be registered, so I'll be creating an account.

if the licensing folks for the CDL will accept it, fine... if not, best to be aware of the 'official' software that doctors and DMEs use to generate the reports. ie, encore.

they might take a screenshot of dreammapper, they might not, they might take a screenshot from sleepyhead, and might not... I don't know, so I offer options.

[ChicagoGranny]

was under the impression we would be using DreamMapper

It could be. Is there not someone you can call and ask? DreamMapper would be easy.

If you can use DreamMapper for compliance, then use Sleepyhead for optimizing/monitoring your hubbie's therapy. Encore would not be necessary in this case.

[NormagiJoy]

@ChicagoGranny...thanks again for the heads up, this is all new to me.
As far as I know there are no guidelines from the FMCSA yet, and we just found out about Concentra "sleep apnea policy" recently.
Hubby did a home sleep test from an online service. Because we did not buy equipment from them, they are no longer helping us. We have his diagnosis, test results, and recommendations. They want to charge us $99 for a prescription that we can only use at their website. Can they do that??
There is no DME, no sleep center, no sleep specialist, no pulmonologist, (but that may change).
(We do not have insurance. I do not work. Hubby is paying cash for everything!!!)
Minimal compliance is 4hrs a night 70% of nights.
How do we get a "clearance letter"??? I assumed the Concentra doc would do it.
If I am in the wrong place, please direct me where I need to be.

[ChicagoGranny]

We have his diagnosis, test results, and recommendations.

Any medical doctor can write a script for a CPAP - family doctor, dentist, etc. A good one will write it. A cautious one will not.

we can only use at their website. Can they do that??

There are some Federal laws that require providers to give the patient a copy of their script when the patient requests it. You should check into this further. Where (URL) are you getting the information that the equipment must be bought from Concerta? This might be a misunderstanding.

[Pugsy]

Please clarify something....Concentra in our area and what I am familiar with isn't an online service that offers the sleep studies...they are like walk in clinics that do DOT physicals all over the country...if so this below pertains to them. Now if that just happens to be the name of the online sleep study service who wants you to buy everything from them...disregard.

The Concentra doc might be happy with the SleepyHead usage report to prove compliance. It all depends on if he is aware of SleepyHead and believes it to be accurate.

He may be more use to seeing the name brand software reports though and in that case we need to get you the Encore software and that's easy to do. Don't worry about maybe needing Encore. That's easy to get.

It is my understanding that the docs that are okayed to do the CDL certifications can either be happy with the software reports or require a "letter" from a sleep doc that not only is the machine being used the required minimum of hours but that the therapy is also "working"/effective. That's what I was told by a sleep doc who also does CDL certification.

There's a real good chance that the Concentra doc will feel comfortable handling everything but if he isn't he will then make necessary referrals to a sleep doc.

You are going to need to be able to print off a report that shows not only the hours of use to meet compliance but it needs to include therapy effectiveness and that's commonly measured by the AHI data point.
Now some docs will have the necessary software themselves to see the needed data.
I suggest that you call up the Concentra doc and ask them what they will be needing to get the CDL medical card needed documentation to prove cpap usage and effectiveness ...ask them if they have Encore or what they want in terms of documentation.
Dream Mapper offers the bare minimum but I don't know if there is a way to see long term compliance in a way that can be printed off. It shows hours of use and AHI but I don't know how easy it is to get more than 1 weeks worth of data. I just never played with it all that much because it was so lame.

It all depends on what the Concentra doc uses or wants to use for these types of situations. They will normally have a procedure already in place. There's a real good chance that they will be equipped and comfortable handling everything...that's kinda how Concentra likes to do things. They may prefer to get the reports themselves using the SD card in the machine and their own software.
Call them up and ask them what they are going to want or need.

[NormagiJoy]

Should I start a new thread with this topic??? When I type "FMCSA" in the search box here, the most current one (not including mine) is Feb 2016.
Hubby is NOT driving OTR. He is driving a dump trailer locally and is home every night.

He went to Concentra (yes, it is an urgent care center) to get his medical cert renewed. He was told he had to have a sleep study done. Home test would be fine. I went online and found ionmysleepdotcom that does HST for a reasonable price and ordered it.

This is from their website "Our program is accepted by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and is widely used for renewal of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and for the Department of Transportation (DOT) physical."

I have his diagnosis, test results and recommendations for treatment. But they want an additional $99 for a prescription that we can only use with them. (their words)

Hubby took the sleep study paperwork to Concentra. They will not write a script for cpap. I think, in the state of Georgia, urgent care centers cannot write prescriptions Class II medical equipment (???) We faxed sleep study paperwork to our regular physician, he won't give us a script. He said the sleep study people should do that. Concentra gave him a 30 day extension to give him time to get a xpap.

I was fortunate to find another online cpap retailer that was willing to work with us and their pricing was MUCH MUCH cheaper. ( I just checked, ionmysleep.com still wants $828 for the Respironics System One AutoCpap w/humidifier then I would have to order a mask from them)

The only guidelines I am aware of is "Concentra policy". It does not say anything about effectiveness. "The minimally acceptable use of PAP is for 4 hours per night on at least 70% of nights" It does mention a "clearance letter" but wouldn't the Concentra dr do that when hubby goes back (he will be going in person to turn in the compliance data and hopefully get another extension).

I thought the FMCSA guidelines had been thrown out and had to be revised??? Last I read, the FMCSA is still taking public comments on this until July 8. If someone can provide me with current FMCSA guidelines please send it my way.

It's long and confusing, so if I am on the wrong track, PLEASE, PLEASE point me in the right direction.