Year end DME incompetence?

[osmium sleeper]

So my DME has sized me for FFMs incorrectly twice now. I only used found DME due o the recommendation from the sleep clinic that I had utilized. If insurance was not covering these items, I would simply order online. Perhaps this is a year end method of clearing overstock whilst billing the insurance company. And since this is the end of the year, it's mad scramble time to find a new DME that accepts my BCBS California insurance, they have provided me with a very large list of course, but only about 1 in 10 of the listed suppliers deal with CPAP devices. Good times.

Is year end incompetence a normal occurrence amongst DMEs?

On a related note, I find both the Quattro and Quattro FX masks to be wonderful devices.

[cowlypso]

Is year end incompetence a normal occurrence amongst DMEs?

Nope, normally they're incompetent all year round!!!

[Hose_Head]

Is year end incompetence a normal occurrence amongst DMEs?

Nope, normally they're incompetent all year round!!!

That could be a symptom of sleep deprivation. Maybe they have undiagnosed sleep apnea!

[Moat]

My DME does have OSA and is on Cpap, so he understands a lot of the stuff we go through to make things work. So far it has been a good relationship.

[Sheriff Buford]

The DME's job is selling equipment and supplies. On rare occasions you find one that knows their equipment, how its suppose to fit/work and on very rare occasions you may find one that is nice and helpful. This is why you must take charge of your health and to do what's best for you. You can accomplish this by educating yourself. I call my DME every 3 months and order supplies. That is the extent of my relationship with them. Unless you hate their guts, you may be wasting your time shopping for a DME.

Sheriff

[Paul56]

It depends... some DME's are consistently incompetent and are the
best kind to deal with given their predictability.

I suppose I should not be harsh on the DMEs; however, my experience
at the outset of this journey demonstrated they were nothing more than
medical equipment sales staff with varying levels of knowledge and helpfulness.

[apneawho]

My husband and I have found some duds along the way and have finally found a keeper. We found one who keeps the patients' best interests in mind and they are knowledgable. We are in McDonough, GA. If anyone lives close and wants the name, just PM me.

[idamtnboy]

I suppose I should not be harsh on the DMEs; however, my experience
at the outset of this journey demonstrated they were nothing more than
medical equipment sales staff with varying levels of knowledge and helpfulness.

Maybe they're kind of like the big box store sales folks, especially electronics. My assessment is they dispense 1/3 knowledge, 1/3 ignorance, and 1/3 BS.

[Bert_Mathews]

Maybe they're kind of like the big box store sales folks, especially electronics. My assessment is they dispense 1/3 knowledge, 1/3 ignorance, and 1/3 BS.

Need to REMEMBER That QUOTE. . . .

Just to INSERT my DME story:
I have three Dr's that deal with my health care, two are in Lansing Thirty mile drive and one seven mile drive who is a GP great person that will write all the scripts for supply's & Equipment.

I'm due to have a replacement Machine in January, HE wrote a script for a VPAP S9 machine -AND- the DME sent the script / Letter of Medical Need back to the office with a note it wasn't filled out correctly and it was switched to a straight CPAP system ..... After many four letter words and phone calls the DME said they could upgrade to a BIPAP system.
Need Less to say I'm LOOKING for a replacement DME & I have some time to shuffle paperwork!!!

Just got out a three day visit with the hospital so NOW I have even MORE Dr's to play with.....

[Grand-PAP]

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[archangle]

It's good to realize there are several kinds of competence.

1) Can they handle the business end correctly? Process the orders correctly, deal with the customer correctly, handle the paperwork correctly, provide the goods and services the customer wants or needs, bill correctly, answer the phone, keep the customer happy, good attitude, etc.

2) Are they simply trying to screw the customer out of as much profit as possible?

3) Technical competence. Can they setup the equipment properly? Can they answer the customers questions correctly, help the customer with problems using the machine, deal with medical questions where appropriate, etc.? Do they read the data card when appropriate and see that it gets evaluated properly? Most importantly, do they know when they don't have the right answer and be willing to find the answer or refer the customer to someone who can answer?