Encore Pro Reader Program is (almost) Here!

[wolftracker]

hi,

my guess with no database is what is on the card is what u get
7 days of details and about 6 month ish of complaincy.

my .02
wolf

[rested gal]

The default action of the full version of Encore Pro is to erase the card with each download. That may have gotten some people who were using Encore Pro at home in trouble when their DME needed to download a card at the insurance company's request. Compliance info was gone. That's probably why the ability to erase the card was taken out of Encore Viewer.

If there is no "erase/don't erase" setting in Encore Viewer and the data stays on the card after each download, that's a good thing for the average user, imho. Makes sure the compliance info is there if needed someday by the DME.

For those who visit this message board, are computer/internet savvy, won't be expected to prove compliance, and who don't want to keep all the data on the card after a download, they can use Phil's utility at mycpap.org (as GreenIce mentioned) to backup their Smart Card, erase it...whatever. That's what I'd do, as I don't need data to stay on the card after a download.

If there is no way to save a report as a PDF, I'll be sorry not to see that. I use that feature regularly in Encore Pro. In that case, I'd use something like PrimoPDF (a free program) to save the file the way I wanted it. Would take a few more clickety-clicks, but would be a way to do that.

I agree that the price seems too high, but maybe that will come down in time. I don't think this is a preliminary version. I'd say this is "it."

Before I'd come down tooooo hard on Respironics for leaving out something I want in Encore Viewer... PDF export is the only thing I see that's been mentioned so far that I'd want, if that's missing... think about this:

Respironics didn't have to create a software for patients at all. They could have done like resmed and kept attempting to make the cpap user totally dependent on the local DMEs for everything, including a glimpse now and then of detailed data.

I think Respironics deserves praise for offering patient software at all. They're showing they're very much more sympathetic to what pro-active cpap users want than what resmed's stance has been.

CPAP users who want to see full data are a drop in the bucket compared to the number of users who couldn't care less -- who just want to know how to turn the machine on and off. So, the fact that Respironics took notice of the few who do want to see fully detailed data at home, and went to the trouble to create software for those few, well... I think that's a great step for a cpap manufacturer to take.

Puritan Bennett certainly deserves a heap of praise, too -- for not interfering with cpap users being able to buy their software all along.

[msheda]

hi,

my guess with no database is what is on the card is what u get
7 days of details and about 6 month ish of complaincy.

my .02
wolf

Doesn't say no database, just no sql server. There is always Jet.

(the VB guys could probably tell you more about it)

[geoDoug]

The default action of the full version of Encore Pro is to erase the card with each download. That may have gotten some people who were using Encore Pro at home in trouble when their DME needed to download a card at the insurance company's request. Compliance info was gone. That's probably why the ability to erase the card was taken out of Encore Viewer.

So you make the default to not erase and then bury the option. When somebody toggles the option, a popup appears that says "Are ya sure you want to being doin' that? Your insurance company may cry foul if you do." Only in a nice way, of course. Then when you delete from the card, have the software save the compliance data in the background to a separate database on the hard drive. Or something like that. There are plenty of ways to get around it without actually removing the option altogether.

I think Respironics deserves praise for offering patient software at all. They're showing they're very much more sympathetic to what pro-active cpap users want than what resmed's stance has been.

I don't buy for a second that Respironics did this for noble out-of-the-goodness-of-their-heart reasons. Accomodating "power-users" is always good business. Companies exist for one purpose only in the end: to make money. Power-users are your base. Witness how much the software is selling for.

My feeling from initial reviews: good idea, bad execution.

Doug.

[Wulfman...]

If there is no "erase/don't erase" setting in Encore Viewer and the data stays on the card after each download, that's a good thing for the average user, imho.

Maybe this is actually the version that the DMEs SHOULD be using.

How many times have we heard about the card being erased by the DMEs?

I think Respironics deserves praise for offering patient software at all. They're showing they're very much more sympathetic to what pro-active cpap users want than what resmed's stance has been.

Agreed. As we've discussed before, it would be nice if some of these companies would fund some more current (meaningful) studies to measure the "compliance" of the patients who have access to their data as opposed to those who don't. To us, it's a "no brainer", but it might get some of these companies' heads out of the sand (or wherever). The current (and increasing in number) users of this therapy are probably more computer-savy than they were 10 to 20 years ago. Plus, the increasing technology being built into the machines obviously makes a critical difference.

Now, if somebody can just sell this concept to the insurance companies, doctors and DMEs......

Den

[rested gal]

Power-users are your base.

Considering people all over the world who use cpap machines, I seriously doubt that "power-users" like the people on this message board are much of a base at all in any manufacturer's eyes. I don't think most cpap users would be the least bit interested in using software or looking at their overnight detailed data.

I think DMEs are the base for all the decisions made by the manufacturers. I'd guess that cpap.com is a pretty good customer of Respironics...quite possibly the largest online DME buying from Respironics. I think it's probably largely through the urging of John and Johnny Goodman (owners of cpap.com) that Respironics said, "Ok, we'll create patient software."

In that respect, yeah, power users on cpaptalk did probably cause the idea to come into being.

So, I'm gonna add my thanks to the Goodmans for getting the ball rolling, along with thanking Respironics for doing it.

[RosemaryB]

Power-users are your base.

Considering people all over the world who use cpap machines, I seriously doubt that "power-users" like the people on this message board are much of a base at all in any manufacturer's eyes. I don't think most cpap users would be the least bit interested in using software or looking at their overnight detailed data.

I think DMEs are the base for all the decisions made by the manufacturers. I'd guess that cpap.com is a pretty good customer of Respironics...quite possibly the largest online DME buying from Respironics. I think it's probably largely through the urging of John and Johnny Goodman (owners of cpap.com) that Respironics said, "Ok, we'll create patient software."

In that respect, yeah, power users on cpaptalk did probably cause the idea to come into being.

So, I'm gonna add my thanks to the Goodmans for getting the ball rolling, along with thanking Respironics for doing it.

I, too appreciate that they have made this available to patients and that the Goodmans got the ball rolling. While the price does seem expensive, it is a one-time cost. If compared to the cost of a single mask, which will need replacing, it's not too much. I suspect not too many people will buy it, which is a shame. But not Respironics fault so much as the whole system.

It would be my hope that the next step is to educate physicians (GPs, not just sleep docs) in how to help patients monitor their own therapy. This would create a market for the software, but more importantly would help more people become compliant.

Something more is needed, but it's really systemic. The DME's RTs, MD's really don't understand the therapy part of this process very well. I think that offering the software is a step toward that. Without the software, it's a very different picture. But it's these other parties that need to do something very different. If doctors started to insist on the software as being a NECESSITY for every patient, then insurance would have to pay for it. I don't necessarily mean most people would monitor their therapy as intelligently as the people on this forum, BUT certainly diabetics monitor their and it makes a big difference.

Look at Rooster's story of 20 months on a cpap, working very hard on compliance in all kind of ways, and it not working until he got the software. See what I mean? It's just shameful that the cpap delivery system can't do any better than that. I feel that Respironics has done the right thing. Now get all those other folks on board.



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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, cpap.com, CPAP, DME, Power

[Panhandler]

It would be my hope that the next step is to educate physicians (GPs, not just sleep docs) in how to help patients monitor their own therapy. This would create a market for the software, but more importantly would help more people become compliant.

Something more is needed, but it's really systemic. The DME's RTs, MD's really don't understand the therapy part of this process very well. I think that offering the software is a step toward that. Without the software, it's a very different picture. But it's these other parties that need to do something very different. If doctors started to insist on the software as being a NECESSITY for every patient, then insurance would have to pay for it. I don't necessarily mean most people would monitor their therapy as intelligently as the people on this forum, BUT certainly diabetics monitor their and it makes a big difference.

Look at Rooster's story of 20 months on a cpap, working very hard on compliance in all kind of ways, and it not working until he got the software. See what I mean? It's just shameful that the cpap delivery system can't do any better than that. I feel that Respironics has done the right thing. Now get all those other folks on board.

Well said. Bravo. We need to educate and encourage our healthcare providers to the benefits of a proactive patient.

[Guest]

they should use the standard storage like usb (very cost effective and excellent capacity) Universal, Cost effective, Versatile and High Capacity for 1GB (USD10) and last for many years.......

[RosemaryB]

they should use the standard storage like usb (very cost effective and excellent capacity) Universal, Cost effective, Versatile and High Capacity for 1GB (USD10) and last for many years.......

If you mean the memory sticks or flash drives, it's my understanding that they don't last very long, and that are not good devices for permanent storage. They would be cost effective, universal, versatile, and high capacity. I agree with that part.

[jskinner]

Respironics didn't have to create a software for patients at all. They could have done like resmed and kept attempting to make the cpap user totally dependent on the local DMEs for everything, including a glimpse now and then of detailed data.

I think Respironics deserves praise for offering patient software at all. They're showing they're very much more sympathetic to what pro-active cpap users want than what resmed's stance has been.

I agree. I wish it was cheaper or free but to me it seems like a pretty decent package.

[Nodzy]

Wow... not a bad package except for the lack of file export. It looks good from the pictures on cpap.com. I am impressed.

Too, if a program that installs a .pdf printer to your "Control Panel" "Printers and Faxes" list is on your computer, you probably can print directly to .pdf. Though you may have to temporarily select that .pdf printer as the defaut printer, unless Encore Viewer allows you to select which printer it will print to each time you want to print therapy data. Well, I think that would work... but I'm not buying Encore Viewer just to prove that it will work.

Though, I will gladly assess a copy in great detail if someone makes one available to me.

Like Rested Gal and others, I think much praise goes to cpap.com and its owners, and surely to Respironics for being proactive in supporting the needs and desires of their end-users. Even the small power-base of xPAP'ers who truly value the benefit of having their therapy data displayed when they want it.

Nodzy

[Nodzy]

Now I'm wondering if Encore Viewer and Encore Pro can peaceably coexist on the same computer, on the same or different volumes. Or, if Encore Viewer inherently wants to cripple Encore Pro. Or, if Encore Pro refuses to let Encore Viewer live and work. I’ll be watching for mention on those scenarios.

Nodzy

[geoDoug]

Now I'm wondering if Encore Viewer and Encore Pro can peaceably coexist on the same computer, on the same or different volumes. Or, if Encore Viewer inherently wants to cripple Encore Pro. Or, if Encore Pro refuses to let Encore Viewer live and work. I’ll be watching for mention on those scenarios.

I wondered the same thing when I first heard about it. I think it's safe to assume that they could exist on different volumes happily--assuming installing the reader doesn't alter the startup or registry. (Yeah, big if, I know.) Then all bets are off.

Doug.

[Guest]

of COURSE they can operate together....! I have both loaded on my PC.