Apria uses a software from Respironics, but it isn't Encore?

[dllfo]

I just got off the phone with the Sacramento Apria Respiratory Tech.

I had a couple of questions about the machine and maybe a malfunction.
He asked me how it was going and I told him wonderful. My mood has improved 98% since I started sleeping all night. Then I asked him if he was
familiar with Encore Pro software. He said no. They use a software "made" by Respironics. I told him my software package is in front of me and it IS made by Respironics. He said they have a more advanced package than the consumer could get. I said "OH"! !

He asked why I asked about it and I told him I had bought my software from Respironics. Silence. He may have thought I was lying to him, but I told him my AHI had went from 8.1 to 20.2 last night and I was curious about it. He said I shouldn't believe all the things an after market software might be telling me. I agreed that aftermarket software might not be as reliable and said bye. No sense in arguing with him.

Do they have different software at Apria? I KNOW my package says Respironics on it. I have Version 1.6.22.

Another thing, I asked him if they registered my machine for me? He asked what I meant and I told him for warranty purposes, doesn't it have to be registered with Respironics. He said they handled the warranty, not to worry about it. I called Respironics and checked on my warranty by serial number. The lady did not tell me the original warranty date, but she did change it to May 8th of this year.

If you buy a unit through the internet, you might consider calling the manufacturer to register it. The one we bought through the internet was still registered to that internet company. They put our name and the date we recieved it on the records and they did not ask for any proof.

[Guest]

Then I asked him if he was familiar with Encore Pro software. He said no. They use a software "made" by Respironics. I told him my software package is in front of me and it IS made by Respironics. He said they have a more advanced package than the consumer could get. I said "OH"! !

He's full of baloney and you caught him in a lie. No wonder some DMEs have such a bad reputation.

[Guest]

you believe everything at Apria RT tells you?


LOL

[ozij]

You can link to Respironic's site and see what they offer, as download, for clinicians only. Encore Pro.

The one, or actually two things this guy isn't full of is knowledge, and brains.


O.

[dllfo]

Well...it is the Apria store in Sacramento, CA. Maybe I can email this to the
head of Customer Service so she can see for herself why Apria is not well thought of.

Mr. Guest...your credibility is pretty low with most of us. If you have an honest
comment, or opinion, register. I am all for "guests" not being able to post.
You posted nothing that establishes you as an authority. You make negative comments without any "proof". And yes sir, I would take the word of an Apria
tech over someone hiding behind the name "Guest". So flame me too, you
seem to lack the knowledge or civility to do anything else. Please register and
share your background/knowledge with us. We need more intelligent inputs,
not negativity based on guesses. We welcome honest inputs, not snide denigrations by person or persons unknown.

[Sleepy-in-AL]

I'm not sure what software he was referring to. Did he specifically state that it was for reading and interpreting data from the smart cards?

Respironics offers several software packages such as ALICE and PROFOX. ALICE is designed for sleep labs. I believe it is designed for performing sleep studies and titration. It may have modules for managing compliance and ongoing sleep therapy but I'm not sure. PROFOX is pulse oximetry software and although offered by Respironics for "their" pulse-ox units, I'm pretty sure it was developed for and by one of the major pulse-ox manufacturers (not Respironics).

However, I believe that EncorePro reads the entirety of the information on the smart card and provides reliable information. I believe that it tells you everything that your machine is capable of telling you. EncorePro is NOT consumer software. As far as Respironics is concerned, EncorePro is not available to the consumer and they will provide no support or updates to anyone who doesn't have a Respironics account. This is not to say that this is absolutely the most accurate information regarding your condition, but the most accurate information your hardware is capable of giving you. Hardware designed for sleep labs and ALICE "MAY", just may, give more information and definately tracks more information with regards to pulse oximetry, EEG, limb movement, etc...


It surprises me how many DMEs, RTs, and Sleep Drs don't know or won't admit to knowing about the capabilities of these devices. Most know that the software exists but don't know the capabilities. I believe that the majority of these people genuinely don't know about the capabilities. I must have read in this forum dozens of times where people have taken EncorePro reports to their therapist or Dr who was completely surprised that they could get such information from the device.

I was prescribed a BiPAP device right off the bat. Due to some initital mixups and the sleep technician incorrectly noting that I needed treatment for centrals, I originally wound up getting a used BiPAP S/T while the DME tried to order a replacement. When I went to see the Dr. regarding the need for the S/T and the results of my study, I requested the BiPAP Auto so that I could be sure to get the data from it as opposed to just the complience data of some of the other units. He told me that the Auto would only give me compliance data. and that it wouldn't be worth buying the expensive software for this. I believe that he genuinely believed that to be true.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, bipap, Titration, DME, auto, Smart Card

[Wulfman]

It surprises me how many DMEs, RTs, and Sleep Drs don't know or won't admit to knowing about the capabilities of these devices. Most know that the software exists but don't know the capabilities.

I believe that he genuinely believed that to be true.

And, this is the prominent theme that keeps running through many of these threads about doctors, DMEs and RTs......they're honestly clueless about what they're prescribing, selling and supporting. (I could add my own personal experiences, but they would be redundant)

I'm wondering if when they go to these conferences and seminars that they're spending too much time on the golf courses, etc. than paying attention to what they're supposed to be learning.

Boggles my mind.

Den

[Guest]

Wulfman, I couldn't agree more. What bothers me too, is that they say this stuff with such an air of authority. They're not used to dealing with informed clients, they haven't done their homework, they spew misinformation, it's all very sad. Since I first found this forum about a year and a half ago, I've noticed that Apria has an increasingly bad reputation and is not well thought of based on the experiences of people here. There are entire threads just devoted to Apria horror stories. But Den is right, the problem extends to the entire sleep therapy industry,

And, this is the prominent theme that keeps running through many of these threads about doctors, DMEs and RTs......they're honestly clueless about what they're prescribing, selling and supporting. (I could add my own personal experiences, but they would be redundant)

Boggles my mind.

Indeed.

[MaskedMechanic]

I just want to clear up the "Warranty Registration" situation mentioned in the first post of this thread. A cpap does not need to be 'registered" with the manufacturer in order to be covered by warranty. In, fact, registration has nothing to do with warranty. These machines all have serial numbers and must be tracked by the manufacturer and dealers. The manufacturer knows who they sold a machine to and when. The dealer likewise knows when a machine with a particular machine was sold and to who. The warranty and its expiration has nothing to do with "registration". Additionally, requiring such a registration is not legal in many states.

[NightHawkeye]

I'm wondering if when they go to these conferences and seminars that they're spending too much time on the golf courses, etc. than paying attention to what they're supposed to be learning.

Close, but . . ., the root problem is simply their focus. It's not so much the golf course as academia. Most of them have never really changed their focus since med school. They still honestly believe that the only worthwhile information comes from academic studies. Think about it. After they graduate, what in their practice would cause that to change. Nothing.

In my own profession, engineering, there are the scholarly types who survive only in colleges and universities, and then there are those of us who develop real-world projects in a competitive marketplace. Although we both rely on the same fundamental physical science, we are focused quite differently. I could carry on at length about this, but instead I'll just say that the main purpose when writing for scholarly journals is for the purpose of elevating one's own self-importance, conveying useful information is a mere secondary concern, and sometimes is of no concern at all to the author. In comparison, the competitive marketplace demands that one's primary focus be on contributing something useful. Otherwise, you'll find yourself back out on the street.

I believe if physicians had this sort of competitive motivation, the system would work a lot better. Unfortunately, they are so insulated from marketplace pressures, and their union has been so successful at thwarting real competition, that, as a profession, they simply take a lot of things for granted which they shouldn't. The example we can point to, here on this forum, is the "sleep docs", of course. There is simply no reason for even the laziest among them not to be aware, at least generally, of the different machines available, and how to reasonably select a good match for a particular patient. And, yet, more often than not, they seem to lack even the most basic knowledge in this area. I know, for example, that my own sleep doc had no clue about the machines.

All just my personal opinion, of course.

Regards,
Bill