Need Proof of Use

I have been a CPAP user for about 13 years. It's terrific - it has changed my life. Anyone who should be using one and doesn't, is nuts. I could be the "poster child" for using CPAP's. Perhaps you get the picture...

Here's the problem - I've had a CDL (commercial driver license) for approximately 20 years. Now, for the 1st time ever, to pass the yearly physical, I have to "prove" to the "CDL physical Dr", that I use the machine.

I am using a (several years old but runs like new) Remstar Pro, Model 1005961. On the side of the machine the is what appears to be, a card slot about the size of a credit card. I have ZERO knowledge of using this. How do I get the "thingy" to read whatever data it has. I assume it needs a reader to go into the slot and some sort of software to get the reading.

I don't have the time, money or inclination to start all over finding a pulmonary Dr, new sleep study, new prescriptions, etc. If I can't "pass" the yearly CDL physical, I'm out of work... Bummer.

you need to call the license issuing place and see exactly what they require. i just don't think they will accept a printout from you because you could get a printout from anybodies machine and fake it. i bet they'll want a letter of compliance from a doctor.

Snore No More wrote:I have been a CPAP user for about 13 years. It's terrific - it has changed my life. Anyone who should be using one and doesn't, is nuts. I could be the "poster child" for using CPAP's. Perhaps you get the picture...

Here's the problem - I've had a CDL (commercial driver license) for approximately 20 years. Now, for the 1st time ever, to pass the yearly physical, I have to "prove" to the "CDL physical Dr", that I use the machine.

I am using a (several years old but runs like new) Remstar Pro, Model 1005961. On the side of the machine the is what appears to be, a card slot about the size of a credit card. I have ZERO knowledge of using this. How do I get the "thingy" to read whatever data it has. I assume it needs a reader to go into the slot and some sort of software to get the reading.

I don't have the time, money or inclination to start all over finding a pulmonary Dr, new sleep study, new prescriptions, etc. If I can't "pass" the yearly CDL physical, I'm out of work... Bummer.

You could probably go to your family or GP doctor and ask him/her to contact a local sleep doctor. Perhaps they will print out your cards results then send the info (most likely only compliance, AHI and some basic functions) and send it to the licensing agency. A doctor's word and sign off usually has a lot of impact with bureaucrats. I suspect you don't have to reinvent the wheel with more sleep tests and consultations if your therapy is successful so far, ie. your card demonstrates that. On the other hand, it might be wise to schedule another sleep test and update your settings and/or prescriptions just to keep things kosher. Up to you, of course. Good luck on whatever path you choose.

It doesn't sound like he has a card... Just the slot. And that's a problem if he must prove complianc.

That card that's in your machine will only have "hours used" on it. The maximum amount of "summary" data it can hold is a little over 300 nights. That model, the Pro, is basically a non-data-capable machine and will only record hours used on the card.......essentially what the LCD screen shows when you plug it in. It takes a special card reader to see the information that's recorded on it. The card reader is a Mako/Infineer DT3500. And, then you would need some special software to download the data.
If you have a document with the date on it of when you got that machine (proof of purchase/bill of sale), you could do some calculations of how many days it was and how many hours is showing on the machine (LCD) and see how many hours per night you've used the machine.
There's also a bit of information when you go into the Setup/Provider Mode on that machine which will display how many nights of 4 hours or more of use have been recorded on it. You could see that information by holding down the two gray arrows below the LCD screen as you plug it in. Once in the setup mode, you use those gray arrows to go through the setup options.......then use the On/Off button to exit the Setup mode. Do NOT push the Humidifier or Ramp buttons while you're in Setup mode or you may change your settings or erase some data. You would want to be careful not to erase some of that information that's in the Setup Mode. You could take it to a DME shop (like maybe the place you got it from) and have them go into the Setup Mode and write down and document how many nights are showing. Along with the "proof of purchase" (bill of sale), you could then have them create a document of your "proof of use" for the drivers' licensing agency.

Also, when you plug in the machine, there will be several sets of numbers that display on the LCD. One of the longer numbers (one of first two to display) is the "Blower hours". The ones you see on the screen before you turn it on are the "User hours". I would write BOTH/ALL of those numbers down for your reference. The User hours CAN be erased, but the Blower hours cannot be erased. If you bought that thing "new", then the Blower hours should be pretty close to the User hours. If you bought it "used", someone could possibly have reset the User hours AND/OR the "nights of 4 hours or more" data.


Den

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If the machine does NOT have a card in the slot, it's really no big deal because it would only show about one year's worth of hours used.
You really need to get someone (like a DME) to verify and document the number of hours in the machine and you need to corroborate when you purchased the machine. With that combination of data, you should be able to prove your use/compliance.


Den

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