I Think I'm In Trouble

[Komodo]

I have my first visit with my sleep doc today since I started cpap therapy.
I called them up yesterday to ask if they wanted me to bring my smart card, or if I had to bring my entire machine, so they could get the data, and go over the results with me.

I was told neither. My DME is supposed to fax my data to them. Not a problem, EXCEPT, they never asked me to send them my smart card! My doc's office calls my DME and chews them out. They call me, apoligize, and tell me to send in the smart card (not that it's going to do any good now)
While I have my DME on the phone, I ask them about turning on my "auto-start" function. I tell them, that when I go into the menu to turn it on, I don't have that option. They ask HOW can I get to that portion of the menu, since THEY never tell their customers how to! I tell them I got the clinitians menu on-line. They are NOT happy with me!!! They say they're going to "call my doctor" and inform him. ( Shame on me! ) So now my DME is mad at me.

While I was on the phone with my doc's office, I was amazed that a Sleep Doctor didn't have the software to read smart cards! Told the young lady on the phone with me that I had been keeping a daily log, and she said to bring that along with me, that the doc could use that data. I tell her that it's not complete data, only what shows up on the LED. Now SHE want's to know how I got that info! I tell her about this forum, and she is VERY impressed!!! I gave her the addy, and hopefully, she'll become a member as well.

Now here's where the trouble comes in. First, my DME is mad at me, and I have no idea how much trouble they can cause with my insurance company.
Second, and more importantly, I'm starting to have some SERIOUS concern with my Sleep Doctor. WHY doesn't he have all the software & hardware to gather data from his patients??? IF, he's going to rely on the DME to gather data, why isn't he on top of it making SURE the data is there before the patient has an appointment???

Is this the same type of sub-standard treatment the rest of you get from your doctors?

I have a lot, I mean a LOT of questions I'll be asking my doc today. I'll post up his replies tomorrow if any of you are interested. That is of course if he doesn't have me arrested in his office for beating him over the head with my data notebook!

[BeanMeScot]

What sleep doctor? Never met him. He dictated the results of my sleep study and that is the entire extent of his interaction with me. My PCP did my prescription and I found any answers I needed right here.

[SleepyT]

No...I was one of the lucky ones. My PCP said, "Ok", when I said I wanted a sleep study...and my sleep doc has been wonderful...she has the software and understands it. But, as you can see from reading this forum, not everyone has a great experience. When the dust settles with your insurance claims, etc......I would begin shopping for a new sleep doc....and perhaps a new DME. It seems to me so many of these 'professionals' have it wrong. YOU are the customer! Who are they to be "mad" at you for anything!!!!!

T.

[carbonman]

Is this the same type of sub-standard treatment the rest of you get from your doctors?

Never heard from the sleep doc that "read" my sleep study
and wrote Rx for first system.
I TOLD my PCP how to write new Rx for auto system...no problem.
DME can kiss it where the sun never shines.
Insc. doesn't care....they pay off like a crooked slot machine.

It's all good.

[Wulfman]

Don't expect the sleep doctors to know diddly squat about the machines or have the software and be able to interpret the reports from the machines. Most of them believe that the machines give false readings anyway. Except for a few "enlightened" ones, they mainly want to know if you're using the machine and "how you feel". Some prescribe an overnight pulse oximetry study to see if your blood oxygen is getting back to where it should be (with the use of the machine).

It's YOUR therapy......not theirs.

It's YOUR machine......not theirs.

YOU are the one who sleeps with it every night!

It's YOUR health.......not theirs.

They work for YOU. (Your insurance and you are paying their fees)

YOU are in the "driver's seat" with your therapy. Don't let THEM forget it.

(Are you seeing the recurring theme/message here?)


Den

[mars]

Komodo - Quote -

Is this the same type of sub-standard treatment the rest of you get from your doctors? End Quote.

In short - YES!

I am beginning to believe that most (not all) sleep doctors are in it for the most money for the least effort. And they get away with it because there is no supervision of them, and most patients are not into self-efficacy

Quote - I have a lot, I mean a LOT of questions I'll be asking my doc today. I'll post up his replies tomorrow if any of you are interested. That is of course if he doesn't have me arrested in his office for beating him over the head with my data notebook! [/quote]

This what happened to me. I go to see my (ex) sleep doctor for the results of my sleep study. I have already found this forum, and have a lot of questions. He has my sleep study in his hand, I have my list of questions in my hand. He see's my list!

Without hesitation he says -"if you ask me any questions I will tear your sleep study up".

I keep my mouth shut (not knowing at that time I can get the sleep study from the sleep lab), and he gives me the study, does not explain any of it. The prescription he writes says CPAP machine at 12, or APAP machine at 5 to 15. If I get a cpap machine he never wants to see me again, if I get an APAP machine he will see me in 12 months. The whole meeting took about 2 minutes.

Quote - IF, he's going to rely on the DME to gather data, why isn't he on top of it making SURE the data is there before the patient has an appointment?? End Quote.

Probably because he could not care less.

I have now learned that the only one who can really help get me the treatment I need is me, (and my friendly GP). Those who major in a speciality often seem to minor in grandiosity and incompetence.

Why Australia should be so much like the US in this respect I do not know. There are good doctors, but my experience is that they are only 1 in 4.

Good luck

Mars

[LinkC]

1. My sleep doc doesn't read the cards. He relies on the DME to do that and fax the report (or print you a copy to hand-carry to the doc.) I print my own and carry it in.

2. The DME isn't about to screw up your insurance relationship. That would be biting off the feed hand, so to speak. The more stuff your insurance pays for, the bigger their bottom line.

3. The DME WANTS you to be dependent on them to do EVERYTHING (it keeps their billing clerks busy!) They may threaten all sorts of things to keep your hands off, but in the end...see #2 above.

I've taken my card to the DME ONCE. They established me in their database and faxed the info to my sleep doc. I printed out a current report the morning of my appt and THAT's the one my sleep doc used. I simply ignore the DME "reminders" now.

My doc is also thrilled I've taken an interest. We go over the report together and I ask informed questions. She knows I have the ability to make changes...and it's something we just don't talk about. She still writes pressure change 'scripts, and I go home, change it, and file the 'script. (Instead of calling the DME to come do it.)

YMMV.

[Portageegal]

sleep Doctor???? who's that? My primary care Dr. said there is no such thing when I told him I wanted to see one. Funny, some Dr. sent me a bill last time I had a study done.

[alnhwrd]

If your sleep doc gives you crap, tell him off, get up and walk out! You live in NY, there should be others available. The same is true for your DME. You wouldn't put up with poor service and bad treatment at a restaurant, so why should you at the doctors/DME? You have your machine and are entitled by law to a copy of your RX to get the supplies you need. Den is right, they work for you, not the other way around.

[jdm2857]

I see a sleep doc at a major university hospital. The practice has about a dozen docs. The staff there reads and prints reports from ResMed and Respironics machines before you actually see the doctor or NP. But typically, they ignore the detail data and graphs. Unless it's a special case they only print the summary data.

My doctor is very nice an up on things. I discussed much of what I read on the forum, and she was open to writing an APAP script to save me the cost of a titration study. When I told her I was getting the software, she was surprised but open to the idea. She told me I would be her first patient to give her opinions of what their pressure settings should be.

[rocketdork]

Without hesitation he says -"if you ask me any questions I will tear your sleep study up".

And Without hesitation I would have responded with, I own the results of that study. I paid good money for it. You work for me, if you aren't willing to answer my questions about my healthcare, I'll fire you and find another doctor to review my results and answer my questions.

I can't even begin to describe how angry I would have been if presented with that situation.

[Treehorn]

Without hesitation he says -"if you ask me any questions I will tear your sleep study up".

And Without hesitation I would have responded with, I own the results of that study. I paid good money for it. You work for me, if you aren't willing to answer my questions about my healthcare, I'll fire you and find another doctor to review my results and answer my questions.

I can't even begin to describe how angry I would have been if presented with that situation.

You can't talk to God like that! Oops my bad, he only thinks he's god.

[mars]

Without hesitation he says -"if you ask me any questions I will tear your sleep study up".

And Without hesitation I would have responded with, I own the results of that study. I paid good money for it. You work for me, if you aren't willing to answer my questions about my healthcare, I'll fire you and find another doctor to review my results and answer my questions.

I can't even begin to describe how angry I would have been if presented with that situation.

Yeh! Right on!

I have questioned myself a lot about my response that day. But I keep on coming up with that I wanted the sleep study info, and I was too new to know I could get it elsewhere, or even demand it from him.

Now I know better, now I would fight for it. And thats my message for Komodo.

cheers

Mars

[raylo]

While I have my DME on the phone, I ask them about turning on my "auto-start" function. I tell them, that when I go into the menu to turn it on, I don't have that option. They ask HOW can I get to that portion of the menu, since THEY never tell their customers how to! I tell them I got the clinitians menu on-line. They are NOT happy with me!!! They say they're going to "call my doctor" and inform him. ( Shame on me! ) So now my DME is mad at me.

... First, my DME is mad at me, and I have no idea how much trouble they can cause with my insurance company.

Umm.. how to find the smartstart ("auto-start") option is described in the patient version of the user guide that comes with the machine and is available online through the patientsection of the Resmed website. What are they going to accuse you of? Reading the patient manual? Following written instructions? Reading about your machine? Accessing published and easily available information? This is certainly a twisted viewpoint on the DME's part.

I might start asking them questions:
Who is telling them that they should not show patients that menu?
Did the doctor order that this not be turned on?
Do they suggest or demand that patients not read the user guide? Why would they do that?
Do they suggest that you not be aware of these features so that you can discuss available treatment options with a qualified medical professional?

Their answers would probably either get them to back off or to outright lie to you about some important things. That could lead to some interesting discussions with their management.

[raylo]

Without hesitation he says -"if you ask me any questions I will tear your sleep study up".

And Without hesitation I would have responded with, I own the results of that study. I paid good money for it. You work for me, if you aren't willing to answer my questions about my healthcare, I'll fire you and find another doctor to review my results and answer my questions.

I can't even begin to describe how angry I would have been if presented with that situation.

Yeh! Right on!

I have questioned myself a lot about my response that day. But I keep on coming up with that I wanted the sleep study info, and I was too new to know I could get it elsewhere, or even demand it from him.

Now I know better, now I would fight for it. And thats my message for Komodo.

cheers

Mars

I don't hold my tongue a lot in customer service situations, but I think I would have done the same as you that day. I was kind of uncertain about a lot of things when first being diagnosed and I wanted to get started on treatment pronto. I think I would have done whatever it took to make sure I got the results sooner rather than later (and without a fight). You porbably took the wise course in terms of practicality. I think a lot of people might agree that a later chance to fire and/or tell this doctor off would be nice.