Switch from Bad to Good DME Experience

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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cpapjack
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Switch from Bad to Good DME Experience

Post by cpapjack » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:15 pm

So I went to my new DME this morning to pick up my new APAP. My appt. was at 10:00. I showed up at approximately 9:45 and they took me right away. When I went into the room, the RT already had my new S8 Vantage sitting there on the table. As I was waiting for the RT to come in, I picked up a manual to reead and it just happened to be the manual us cpappers aren't supposed to get. I'll get to that in a minute. He asked me a few questions and had me fill out some new patient paperwork and explained to me how he likes to follow up with his patients every so often and said that he was going to call me next week sometime to see how things were going. When we were done with the paperwork, he went over the machine with me. While he was doing this, I noticed he didn't have a humidifier sitting out with it, but they were sitting on the floor beside us. I asked him if my machine came with and he said, "why, do you want one?" I said yes as I had one with my previous xPAP machine and he said ok. He then went to check with the billing people and said that my insuracne already paid for the humidifier from my other xPAP machine, but that's ok. As he was packing up everything in the bag, I asked him if it was possible to get a chin strap as I never received one when I was setup originally. I know they don't work for alot of people, but I've never tried it since my sleep study, which the one they used on me didn't work, but this one looks like it might work. I currently tape, and have had much success doing so, but it's not fun having to remove the tape in the morning as I always have either a goatee or the 5 O'clock shadow thing going on. I do use hot water to help take the tap off, which does help, but if this chin strap works, all the more better, so we'll see how that goes. Anyway, he said sure, no problem. With that said, my first experience with my new DME on a scale of 1 - 10, I would rate a 10.

I know my description wasn't as detailed as other people's experiences, but then again, I've never been good at explaining myself. Nonetheless, I hope I was able to get my positive experience across and let everyone know that there is another "Good" DME out there and not give up hope if you run into one of those ones.

Oh yeah, one more thing. I pointed to the clinician's manaul and asked him if that was the manual I wasn't supposed to have and he mumbled yeah, and then stuffed it into my bag. On top of that, my prescription for my APAP was written to be set at 5-15. Well, I mentioned to him how 5 may be too low for me as 4 was when I was on my APAP trial; he then proceeded to show me how to change it, even though he knows they're not really supposed to do that. Kinda like he knew I wasn't supposed to get the clinician's manual, but he gave it to me anyway.

So, again, I definitely give this DME a 10 !!!!

I can't wait to go to sleep tonite.


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kurtchan
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Post by kurtchan » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:39 pm

Congratulations and good luck with the new machine tonight! It's nice to read about a positive DME experience for a change!

Kurtchan


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cpapjack
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Post by cpapjack » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:53 pm

Thank you. I owe it to everyone's help on this forum.

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cpapjack
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Post by cpapjack » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:10 pm

bump

Guest

Post by Guest » Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:22 pm

I find it mildly amusing that when you post a good experience with one of these companies, there is 1 response in about 18 hours.

But post a compaint and there will be 10 responses in 60 minutes! lol

Guest

Post by Guest » Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:27 pm

That's because when it's negative, we all have agreement and additional stories to tell, when you see a good story, as you can see many have viewed it, we don't have similar experiences to relate - thus not as many responses - as the one noting 'great to see a positive experience' goes for all of us

DMW
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:18 am

Well ....

Post by DMW » Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:27 pm

Guest,

Why would we kick them when they AREN'T down??
Are we having FUN yet?

Guest

Post by Guest » Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:40 pm

kurtchan wrote:Congratulations and good luck with the new machine tonight! It's nice to read about a positive DME experience for a change!

Kurtchan
Ditto.


dllfo
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Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 11:37 pm
Location: Sacramento, CA

Post by dllfo » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:30 am

Maybe....just maybe they read this forum? A long shot, but it would be nice for them to read it.

I asked the head RT at our Apria store in Sacramento if he had ever heard of this forum. As I recall I don't think he had. I politely suggested he, or one of his sharper DMEs should read it. They could learn a lot from our forum.

AFTER I asked their operator to connect me to the CEO of Apria they put me thru to this gentleman. He was very nice, covered all my questions, even offered to come by my house to check the machine out. Unfortuneatly I was out of town, but he at least offered. I have shared email with three DMEs who are on this forum, each one of them was a wealth of info, but I try not to take up too much of their time.

I am really happy for you, hopefully it will be a trend. I offered a local tech cash if he could come by to spend enough time with me...so I could understand the Encore Pro software and he said he would do it for free, just
call when I am ready.

Once again, when we find the "right tech" things go much smoother.

Last comment here CPAPTALK, I hope you will sit down, get the thesauras out and type a nice letter to this guys boss. Better yet, send it to Corporate HQ. I sent a letter like that to Apria Corporate HQ telling them how good she was, that she had the ability to see the "big picture" and so on. When others are thinking up a way to say no, she is thinking of a way to get it done. Her Sacramento boss read it in front of ...uh...I guess a monthly meeting of the employees. She was very pleased. She always trys to help me out.

Good luck with this tech, looks like you found a good one.

Installing Software is like pushing a rope uphill.
I have Encore Pro 1.8.65 but could not find it listed
under software.

I LOVE the SV.