Where do you the patient want to be set up?

Finished interviewing sleep lab with beaucoup questions. Very helpful and excited about brand new office/rooms for study. Looked like the Ritz. Asked if I could reserve a room for valentines day. They are all booked up. My question is where do you all prefer to be set up? Dr. office,sleep lab, dme office, in home, after hours, weekends? Sleep lab who has power of the veto recommends in home set ups. I have no problem with this I just know that I would not want a stranger in my home regardless of intentions. Nothing to hide, just enjoy the privacy. In my humble opinion 3d party locale is better. I know that everyone will be different and I will ask them their preference...AUTOMATIC

Personally, I'd like to have the choice.

I prefer to go the sleep clinic, but only because it's convenient. I prefer NOT to go to the DME office, because it's not particularly nearby.

I generally agree I don't like people coming to my home, plus I feel sort of like I'm imposing to make them drive there (of course, in my area, nothing is less than 20 minutes drive from anything else, so it really would put a crimp in a DME's time to try to visit people in home).

But rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, I think it'd be nice to have the option.

My DME is at the hospital for 3 hours each morning, helping to set up people who have just completed their titration study, and then in her office in the afternoon.

Liam, 'Mail' spelled backwards.

Like Liam, I would prefer to have a choice. The DME my insurance wanted me to use was an hour's drive away and they don't come to the house. Also, they don't have evening hours, and only every other Saturday morning. So Sat. appointments were booked a month or more in advance. There's a DME 2 blocks from my house, but they weren't on my insurer's list. I explained to the insurance company how NOT acceptable their DME was, and eventually got what I wanted. Going to their DME, losing 2 hours of work or waiting a month, was not acceptable. Going to a local DME, going to the sleep clinic (about 5 minutes away) or having the DME come to me would have been acceptable. Although I would have preferred to go to them, then have them come to my house. Always feel like you got to clean and all if someone's coming over. And before the cpap, there were days when cleaning, after working all day, just wasn't possible.
Debbie

Deb, I feel the same as you do!! That's like now I have the Tech guy or whatever he's called coming to my house tomorrow morning at 7am..... Do I try to clean from tonight? I am drained right now... don't know how I will be able to clean tonight!!

And as for where I would prefer to be.... I would say at the Sleep Lab. Afterall, they do have all the equipment right there.... why have them bring it to my house and setup then tear down.... Besides, my kids would be up with them and I really won't get a good night's sleep (not that I do anyways) but this would be worse knowing there's a stranger in my home... what are they doing??? Hmmm??? My dog would be barking and begging to be petted all night by the stranger (and help the stranger to the goods) My birds would be so excited to have strangers to talk to, they won't get any sleep.... Boy... I am exhausted just thinking about it!! Can they do this remotely from the parking lot??

What is a DME? Sorry, don't mean to sound stupid.... I just don't think I have come across one yet!

Automatic,

Set them up wherever they want to be. I'm like you! You won't find me and the RT sit'n on the edge of my bed putting together my machine. One other suggestion. Have all the equipment in a retail setting for people to just stop by and touch and look at. Take things apart and put back together. Turn on and listen to. Don't make the first time they see their equipment when you take their machine out of the box for an appointment. One other thing, though it may seem efficient, do not unwrap and put together sealed items ahead of time. I don't want to show up and have my hose unwrapped and the nasal pillows opened and installed. For all I know the last person tried the thing and didn't like it.

Muckmeister, you are so on the button!! I agree with you on that one! If the RT comes tomorrow with everything unwrapped, I am going to tell him to give me a different one that is still in original wrapping etc.... Besides, I want to know how to put it together anyways!

My DME was supposed to come to the house, but hq decided they wouldn't do that anymore, so I had to have my husband drive me the 50 minutes to the DME. They brought out a Spirit and I told them I side sleep, so they gave me a Breeze, no other choices. Told them I travel a lot and wanted a Goodknight, said they would order one for me, had none in stock. Told I was buying the Breeze, could not try several to see what I like, was renting machine, no problem there. Bring the machine back in two weeks for readout and I would be given my new 420E.
After one week with the Breeze, I had many problems, but was stuck with it. Ordered a Swift on my own a few weeks later. Love it. They haven't even gotten these at the DME as they are backordered. I got mine overnight from Cpap.com They are not allowed to order that way, more's the pity.

I wouldn't want anyone in my home either. It would be nice to be able to see a disply of the various masks and machines. Only place I've seen these is at my Sleep Drs where I went over them with a fine tooth comb last time I was in. Each one is labeled on the headgear what it is. Some I had only seen photos of and I was able to identify most, but it was nice to be able to feel the seals of the various masks and how soft they were, etc. My DME is a huge place with mostly vacant floor area. There is really no reason they couldn't have a display of the various masks they carry and the machines. The machines wouldn't even have to be anything but shells to show the cases, but a display of the masks, on heads to show how they went on and fit would be great.

Goofy,
Please forgive us. We do tend to abbreviate a lot on the board, which does make it difficult for new people. DME is Durable Medical Equipment, and is often used as shorthand for the supplier of the equipment.
Debbie

Y'all are making this real easy for me.
I concur that the patient should have a choice and select where they are most comfortable. I think the display idea is fantastic. I will get my vendors/manufacturers to provide samples, brochures and perhaps refab. equipment that can be interacted with all 5 senses. An old Jump Master saying...Looks good-Feels good-Is good. I have alot of information and specs to digest just to keep up with you on this forum. Keep it coming and thanks for your insight....AUTOMATIC