DMEs need Compliance Ratings

[Sillyme]

I seem to remember a post from a RT who was proud that the DME she worked for had a high percentage of compliance. If these numbers were available it would be a big incentive for them to spend time and resources to help people adjust and get what they need. It would be a great way to weed out the incompetent ones. I think it would completely change the way DMEs operate.

[chunkyfrog]

Let me see .... How could this work?
Compliance scores would be compiled and posted where?
Would local medical societies be interested in posing these results online, or make them available to physicians?
I'm betting that insurance companies already have the data; and would like nothing less than all the rest of us seeing it--
as I am convinced they would be using it for all the wrong reasons.
No conscience, no soul, no consequences. . .
You, Silly, have a GREAT IDEA!

[ZQuest]

I like your Idea Sillyme,i mean if pretty much everything out there gets review ( product,services) then why not Dme's.After some of the horror stories that i've read on this forum about some of the stuff that they try and have pull on some of us and on our Ins companies. This rating concept may force some of them to give us a better service.( Think about it, competition among themselves for our bussiness hmmm) Now working out the details on this is another matter,but i think that it is a good idea .



Phil

[Sillyme]

Let me see .... How could this work?

I wonder if there is anyone with the authority to request that data. Don't have a good enough idea of how the system works.

[packitin]

I don't think it would work.

First, from my experience (had apnea since 2004), the DME's don't have time. They want you in and out so they can go about their business. Same with my sleep doctors (I've had two so far). I have mentioned that I have the software and have my apnea record in my computer, and have hinted that if they would like to see it, I would be glad to provide it. They did not seem interested at all. Usually, when I go to the sleep doctor, he asks me how I am doing, do I need a refill; then he says "stick out your tongue", "say Ahh", "looks good", "How is your machine working for you?" "Great, I'll see you in 6 months, call my secretary when you need a refill." That's it.

It's pretty much the same with my DME (Apria). They call about twice a year and ask "How is your machine working for you?", "Do you use it every night?" Occasionally, "What is your average hours?" And that's it. I call them every 6 months for new filters and they tell me to come by and pick them up, which is o.k. And they do provide me with new masks every few months, so I really can't complain. (I haven't spent any money on my illness, since I'm on Medicare)

Does my DME care anything about my AHI? Nawwwww......!

[Sillyme]

I don't think it would work.

Yes - I'm in fantasy land. (I still think we could have national health care that works for everyone.)
Perhaps, instead of worrying about the sleep center and the DME being in cahoots - they should be required to be one entity. Then that whole entity could be rated for it's effectiveness in treating SA. If your Lasik surgeon had a low success rate he would be shut down. I bet we would see a huge change in attitude with lots of support and encouragement.
. . . You may sa-a-a-y I'm a dreamer . . .

[FlyingB]

I know my Doc only uses the compliance data for billing justification. Sad, really. But that is modern medicine.

[robysue]

I'll be honest. I misread the title to mean that there should be certain "standards" that DMEs should have to "comply" with to get a good "compliance rating".

Standards such as:

Does the DME routinely provide all CPAP clients/patients with a full data machine?

Does the DME show all clients/patients how to obtain AHI and leak data as well as compliance data?

Does the DME allow multiple mask exchanges during the first 30 days (or more?) of treatment so that clients/patients can find a mask that works for them?

Does the DME have a full time RT on hand for client/patient questions?

And so on ....

[B_4]

I don't think it would work.

Yes - I'm in fantasy land. (I still think we could have national health care that works for everyone.)
Perhaps, instead of worrying about the sleep center and the DME being in cahoots - they should be required to be one entity. Then that whole entity could be rated for it's effectiveness in treating SA. If your Lasik surgeon had a low success rate he would be shut down. I bet we would see a huge change in attitude with lots of support and encouragement.
. . . You may sa-a-a-y I'm a dreamer . . .

I think that making the DME AND sleep center one entity woud be disaterous. It would be a conflict of interest because the sleep center would profit from the diagnosis. I like having an impartial judge.