Quack sleep center doc's bill

[sylvie]

This is a rant.

I just got a bill for the quack sleep center doc that I saw in January 2012. It was $300 for 15 minutes, and BCBS counted it toward my high deductible (even though I pay $200 a month, as I am self-employed). In a nutshell, a month after my sleep test, I brought my brick cpap to him to find out why I was still sleepy, not even knowing I had a brick, which his sleep center gave me. He told me gleefully I had been using the cpap 80% of the time, told me to stand on one foot and touch my nose, and then go home and use a good nose spray. No mention of AHI, leaks, etc. from him. ...That's when I found the wonderful sleep forums. FRAUD! FRAUD! FRAUD!

[xenablue]

Was he giving you a sobriety test?? Sounds like he was a little confused

Cheers,
xena

[sylvie]

Was he giving you a sobriety test?? Sounds like he was a little confused

Cheers,
xena

That's funny:) I don't know how you have to compartmentalize the fact that you're not helping the patient at all. I don't want to be one of these scoundrels the day they meet God.

[DiverCTHunter]

That's funny:) I don't know how you have to compartmentalize the fact that you're not helping the patient at all. I don't want to be one of these scoundrels the day they meet God.

I'd much rather be the candy-striper the day they're admitted unconscious to ICU and meet the sleep-deprived RN

[sylvie]

That's funny:) I don't know how you have to compartmentalize the fact that you're not helping the patient at all. I don't want to be one of these scoundrels the day they meet God.

I'd much rather be the candy-striper the day they're admitted unconscious to ICU and meet the sleep-deprived RN

Oh my gosh--that is really funny

[archangle]

This is a rant.

I just got a bill for the quack sleep center doc that I saw in January 2012. It was $300 for 15 minutes, and BCBS counted it toward my high deductible (even though I pay $200 a month, as I am self-employed). In a nutshell, a month after my sleep test, I brought my brick cpap to him to find out why I was still sleepy, not even knowing I had a brick, which his sleep center gave me. He told me gleefully I had been using the cpap 80% of the time, told me to stand on one foot and touch my nose, and then go home and use a good nose spray. No mention of AHI, leaks, etc. from him. ...That's when I found the wonderful sleep forums. FRAUD! FRAUD! FRAUD!

1) Unfortunately, that's the sad state of the standard of apnea care in the US today. (And many other parts of the world.)

2) On the other hand, dumb doctors with "overnight sleep test followed by brick CPAP and compliance only aftercare" have actually saved a lot of lives. It's just sad that they haven't saved as many as they could have with only a little more effort.

[BigLou]

Ditto, I have a crappy sleep doc too. No knowledge of wave flow patterns as they correlate to lets say, CHF. Will be looking for a new one very soon.

[sylvie]

2) On the other hand, dumb doctors with "overnight sleep test followed by brick CPAP and compliance only aftercare" have actually saved a lot of lives. It's just sad that they haven't saved as many as they could have with only a little more effort.

The sleep center called me last month to ask "how everything is doin'"? In a nutshell, I told him he gave me a dataless brick, making me have to buy my own APAP, saw his pathetic sleep doc with his pathetic "touch your nose" ritual and who had absolutely no data available to him to tell me anything and telling me that "Well, you were tested at 7 and your report says that got rid of all the apneas, so I don't know why you're tire," and sleep center tested my pressure way too low (double), which I used for months while feeling dead and never knowing why (I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to). I told him the guy on the phone all this and that I thought it was awful that his center doled out the bricks, knowing they were useless to anyone. You know what he told me? :

He said: "Well, no one else ever complains."

[ChicagoGranny]

He said: "Well, no one else ever complains."

I am sure that is true. Spread the word.

[emt_271]

I feel so lucky (Blessed) to be in the Erie Pa area. My Seep Doc/Center could not be better. I did finally meet the Dr himself this week after being on BiPAP for 2 months, but his PA is also very good. The sleep study tech was also really good. Hit the titration right on with one session. My DME I think is currently struggling, being short handed, but still got the job done. Like I posted an another post I wish I had done this 5 years ago. I feel for those with less than stellar results, but my experience has been really good.

[Snore_question]

I also was treated by a quack sleep center. They are out there. Thanks for posting.

[archangle]

He said: "Well, no one else ever complains."

Especially the ones who die quietly in their sleep.

I find it funny/sad that they ignore the patient's opinion when the patient questions the treatment, but then uses the patient not complaining as evidence they're doing things right.

[sylvie]

He said: "Well, no one else ever complains."

Especially the ones who die quietly in their sleep.

I find it funny/sad that they ignore the patient's opinion when the patient questions the treatment, but then uses the patient not complaining as evidence they're doing things right.

Right! Also, when I told him I had to get my own APAP b/c he gave stupid me the brick, he kept harping that "CPAP is better than APAP!!" over and over again. Huh??? That was his justification??? Let alone the fact that he offered no context regarding that statement???

[LSAT]

He said: "Well, no one else ever complains."

Especially the ones who die quietly in their sleep.

I find it funny/sad that they ignore the patient's opinion when the patient questions the treatment, but then uses the patient not complaining as evidence they're doing things right.

Right! Also, when I told him I had to get my own APAP b/c he gave stupid me the brick, he kept harping that "CPAP is better than APAP!!" over and over again. Huh??? That was his justification??? Let alone the fact that he offered no context regarding that statement???

I'm certainly not sticking up for your doctor, but, many people find that CPAP works better for them than APAP. Many people with APAP use the CPAP mode. I found that my sleep was interrupted when I used APAP.

[ChicagoGranny]

He said: "Well, no one else ever complains."

Especially the ones who die quietly in their sleep.

Good one Archangle!