Las Vegas/Henderson CPAP Talk

Blizardj wrote:HST

I'm in Henderson, and have used Bennett and now Preferred.

Have nothing bad to say about either one. Although I did have to do some talking to get Preferred away from giving me a brick. After they saw I was knowledgeable they have been good. And after I got a different prescription...☺

Are you with either one of those?

John

Negative, I don't work for either. I'm sure there is good and bad with all companies but we get calls sometimes of patients that want an alternative to their DME company but unfortunately those companies have contracts with their insurance and they have no choice but to go through them. My company is cash/credit only. I'm more on the diagnostic side of sleep. People have the option to buy equipment through us(which I hope they do lol) but a lot of people do cash pay for a home sleep study rather than go through their insurance then use their insurance to get their equipment.

I hail from the City of Sin.

SleepyVegas wrote:I hail from the City of Sin.

Nice to meet you

HST,

Welcome to the forum!

You write:

HST wrote:As a tech I've heard a lot of horror stories of people dealing with DME companies.

Stick around here and you'll hear a lot more horror stories.

But more seriously: It's nice to see a DME person who understands that there are a lot of horror stories out there. Being willing to listen to them is the first step in "fixing" the problem. Listening to patient ideas on what to do differently is the next step. And you'll get lots of good ideas on what DMEs can/should do so that their customers are educated patients who work with you instead of being disgruntled about the whole process with good reason.

Again, welcome to the forum!

robysue wrote:HST,

Welcome to the forum!

You write:

HST wrote:As a tech I've heard a lot of horror stories of people dealing with DME companies.

Stick around here and you'll hear a lot more horror stories.

But more seriously: It's nice to see a DME person who understands that there are a lot of horror stories out there. Being willing to listen to them is the first step in "fixing" the problem. Listening to patient ideas on what to do differently is the next step. And you'll get lots of good ideas on what DMEs can/should do so that their customers are educated patients who work with you instead of being disgruntled about the whole process with good reason.

Again, welcome to the forum!

Thanks, I want my company to be different, My philosophy is pretty simple, a well educated CPAP user with less problems using their equipment is not only going to feel better but will most likely want to only deal with the person that helped them in the first place! I want that to be me.

HST wrote:Thanks, I want my company to be different, My philosophy is pretty simple, a well educated CPAP user with less problems using their equipment is not only going to feel better but will most likely want to only deal with the person that helped them in the first place! I want that to be me.

you're a really weird excuse for a DME/RT... "customer service" "empowered customers" "knowledgeable patients" "happy customers"....

I think you're some kind of spy or something, certainly like no DME I've ever heard of!

ok, I exaggerate, there have been a few, people here who've had positive experiences...

keep up the weird

My first local DME's were shady, the second, slightly better.
I then went out of pocket, buying all I needed online (forum hosts)
Once on Medicare, I went with Apria--(I know; dumb, dumb, DUMB)
My current provider is a small, family outfit. I like them. I hope it lasts.

palerider wrote:

HST wrote:Thanks, I want my company to be different, My philosophy is pretty simple, a well educated CPAP user with less problems using their equipment is not only going to feel better but will most likely want to only deal with the person that helped them in the first place! I want that to be me.

you're a really weird excuse for a DME/RT... "customer service" "empowered customers" "knowledgeable patients" "happy customers"....

I think you're some kind of spy or something, certainly like no DME I've ever heard of!

ok, I exaggerate, there have been a few, people here who've had positive experiences...

keep up the weird

I'm not just DME supplier. I'm a PSGT and actually believe in my work. Yes, this is neat to me, being able to chat with CPAP users and hear their problems allows me to be a better sleep technician. The DME supply is new to me. Im educated in CPAP equipment but have never had to sell it so learning the dos and don'ts from customers is beneficial to me.
keeping the weird up

. This is cool. Geeking out on one's job. Yessss.
You sound young and naive. I hope the idealism lasts; and spreads.
We welcome the attitude.

HST wrote:Thanks, I want my company to be different, My philosophy is pretty simple, a well educated CPAP user with less problems using their equipment is not only going to feel better but will most likely want to only deal with the person that helped them in the first place! I want that to be me.

I'll also say "Welcome!".
Contributing to the education of the users has always been the intent of this forum.
I've been here for about 11 years and in that time there have been quite a few DMEs, RTs, RRTs, Sleep Techs, etc.....here. Many of them were welcomed and often provided helpful information to the forum members......mostly regarding issues on dealing with the commercial and technical sides of this therapy from their perspectives.
There have been and still are lots of computer and electronics-savvy and otherwise technically oriented/educated folks, too.
I think that may explain why we've been greatly involved in the evaluation of our data, tweaking our therapy settings and all that goes with that. Fully-data-capable machines are always suggested to the users for primary use and non-data-capable "bricks" are either discouraged or suggested to be relegated to naps, camping, emergency spares/backups or similar uses.

So, join in and feel free to contribute.


Den

.

chunkyfrog wrote:. This is cool. Geeking out on one's job. Yessss.
You sound young and naive. I hope the idealism lasts; and spreads.
We welcome the attitude.

I am young (31) started doing sleep studies at 23. One thing that frustrates me about my job is when people don't even give CPAP a chance because they had one bad experience with it or were not educated properly. I know first hand the difference it makes in peoples lives.

My DME treated me well and gave me good equipment... could've given me a brick and I wouldn't have known the difference until it was too late... but didn't. Usually only the people who got screwed over post about their experience.

So... tell us a horrible client/patient story.

Uh, patient privacy, laws, and all that folderol!

I am also in Vegas and have had good experiences with Bennett, Apria and Vital Care (Rotech). I find the key to avoiding bricks is to make sure the doctor writes a specific rx so the dme has no choice.

@HST - What doctors do you recommend? I have been going to Zebba, but the 1 to 2 hour wait time at every appointment is ridiculous. Plus Dr. Molin's idea of an acceptable AHI is anything under 15 (his words).

I had a great experience with my DME and find them very helpful. I have learned a lot from this website and as I have become more knowledgeable the relationship has changed. Lately they have been asking for my opinion on the equipment I am using. Also, they have worked to provide me with the equipment that I wanted. I am lucky, because I live in a small town and they are my only option for about 50 miles.