Would you read my Smart Card for me?

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 3:07 pm

Okay, I found my doctor's email online (disconcerted her, I can tell you), and got this reply to my query about why I got a Plus vs. Pro:

"In terms of the machine, we usually allow the vendor to choose which smart card variety they give to a patient but generally we use the one that
documents compliance most, not the other since most of the information we obtain about your sleep apnea treatment is derived from the CPAP trial
itself. The other machine is more useful if someone has not had a formal
cpap titration in the lab or for a variety of other issues."

Sounds very much to me that she's not interested in the results, and probably doesn't own the software to read my card, either. Not that my card SAYS anything useful, apparently....

I have YET to meet this woman. She is the medical doctor of the sleep center I went to. Apparently she prescribed my set up without meeting me, just reading my labs.

Should I go shopping for another doc? She IS Board Certified, etc. etc.
B.

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Mon May 07, 2007 3:57 pm

Yes I would find an other doctor!!! Basing everything on one CPAP titration, when your sleep quality might not have been representative of what you experience relaxed at home (let alone night to night variation) is really not acceptable...

What doctor would not want the opportunity to have access to data, especially since you are still not noticing any improvement, 2 or 3 weeks after you started the therapy???

I would keep on insisting (what difference does it make to her? What if you say that you will continue and be compliant only if you can check that the therapy is working... a little white lie might help you at the end... It's your health!)

Good luck

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:15 pm

Ask your doc the following:

If I had hypertension and you prescribed me drug medication for it, would you not encourage me to monitor my blood pressure to make certain the medication is at the optimal dosage? ... or if I had diabetes and you prescribed me insulin, would you not encourage me to monitor my blood sugar to make certain the insulin dosage was correct? ... or would you wait til I keeled over and got rushed to the emergency room because of inadequate treatment?

If your doc still does not get it, take your Rx and find another DME and get a machine that provides useful information.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:17 pm

WOO HOO! Email has elicited response. There is suddenly a "cancellation" this Wed at 3 pm. I am there. With questions printed out. And Dreamstalker's avatar there to scowl at her if she missteps in any way...

Now, here's an idea that's been occuring to me. Should I go hire myself a pulmonary specialist, in addition to this sleep doc? Obviously I should probably wait until after Wednesday to decide, but do you do all your business with just one doc?

My primary is out - she referred me, and that's her limit. If I want more in depth, she said to go to a pulmonary specialist.

Whatchya think?
B.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:36 pm

If you are renting, tell your DME that you want an M Series Pro, or the older (tank) Pro 2. Note, it must have a 2 on it if it's the older Pro.

Tell the DME that if he can't get you the machine you want, then you will give him back his machine and find a new DME. Very simple, very easy. You might be surprised at how quickly the DME will come up with a Pro.

They definitely won't want to lose your business (even if you have been a fly in their ointment). They make too much money off machines and accessories to lose customers.

SlapShot · Post by **SlapShot** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:41 pm

Another Pacific Northwester here - I'm in Kirkland.

I don't know how important it is to have a pulmonary specialist, but you might be able to find a sleep doctor who is also a pulmonary specialist. A couple of the doctors at my sleep clinic were pulmonary doctors before they turned to sleep medicine.

tiredofbeingsleepy · Post by **tiredofbeingsleepy** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:01 pm

Glad to hear you got an appt sooner, Babette! Keep insisting on what you want. I've learned that we have to be our own advocate on this journey!

I called my DME again this morning. Remember, I called them on Friday requesting to change from a Plus to a Pro and was told several different things, one of which was "we don't have any here"......to which I said, "well I'm sure you can order one!".........surprise, surprise this morning "they found a brand new Pro here, still in the box that has your name on it"!
I pick it up tomorrow.
I will also be trying on the Hybrid mask, which I was talked out of at my appt last week when I picked up the equipment.

Why don't they listen to people? Now I've got to make another trip to the DME, 45 minutes from my house, to get what I originally wanted (and told them I wanted) in the first place!

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:59 pm

You need to pretend to be ignorant for a few minutes. Pretend you haven't talked to the DME much before (I'm sure it's documented there, but whatever) and just call them and tell them that if they keep you on the plus, then you'll rent from another DME. Just be calm and polite. You want a pro or they're going to take their machine back, and that's just because you've chosen what machine you want. You're not mad at them, or think they did anything wrong to you, or lied to you or anything of the sort. They're selling a product and service, and you've chosen to upgrade the product or, if they're unable to help you, go with a competitor. Just like you would with tires.

That's the best way to deal with DMEs in general IMHO, because people seem to think that since their health is involved somehow the DME isn't looking to make a buck or should bend over backwards for them.

Just politely inform them that you're a capitalist pig and you'll gladly go wherever the service and prices are the best and you pretty much couldn't care less about loyalty, games, delays, or what they think your doctor says. Your machine is a plus, and the pro is exactly the same machine with more information. The doctor doesn't care which you get.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:09 pm

Heck!

If it is going to be that much effort, may as well demand an AUTO.