VitalAire

Julie, Yes, i had bad luck with one branch. That is what I said when I wrote "it might depend on the branch/individual"... No it doesn't mean all branches are bad. But it could be indicative of a certain culture within the organization.

Bob

marmaduke451 wrote:when I asked them to help with adjusting a setting, they refused, claiming I needed to go back to my doctor for a new prescription.

DMEs like VitalAire, in the US or Canada, who dispense cpap equipment aren't supposed to change the doctors directions without approval from the doctor.
Think of them like you would your pharmacist...he has to go by what the doctor writes on the RX and can't change the dosage.
Now some DMEs may have already been given the ability to change something by the doctor in advance because they have worked with the doctor a lot and the doctor may have said "you can do so and so within so and so" and no need to bother me...and those DMEs can go ahead and make changes because the doctor has given them permission ahead of time. Without that permission they can't change anything without doctor's okay.

So that part of your displeasure with VitalAire is unfounded. They are bound by medical laws from changing stuff without doctor's input. Now they could probably get that input fairly easily if they just ask.

I have dealt with Vitalaire as the supplier of my initial purchase of PAP equipment (Jan 2016) and found them to be to be very helpful .
I must say that prior to dealing with them I researched as much as possible, through online forums, about sleep apnea and PAP equipment types. When I initially talked with the local Vitalaire representative she listened to me and respected the fact that I had educated myself prior to seeing her. I can definitely say that it was a two way conversation with respect between both parties.
I would like to impart this bit of info for fellow members that reside in Ontario, Canada. As stated in an earlier post, In Ontario there is a medical program called ADP that will pay for most of the cost of a prescribed PAP machine. Due to stringent equipment requirements most people are only prescribed a CPAP machine. However, there is a way to receive an autopap machine from them. The coding for allowed CPAP machines includes the Resmed Autosense For Her model. Just be sure to get your doctor to fill the prescription stating you need the “Resmed Autoset for Her and setup for CPAP usage”. The excerpt from the ADP product manual for approved CPAP machines is as follows: AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her code: PS0001184 max allowed: 1 Approved price: $860.00. This information was told to me by the Vitalaire representative.
I made my initial purchase of equipment/supplies from Vitalaire in order to obtain my machine through the ADP program and to avail myself of their expertise in how to properly get started on my sleep apnea journey. Having said this I must say the their prices for masks and supplies are quite high (but similar to other local equipment providers). I have since purchased supplies from a couple of online suppliers from Toronto and find the prices much better.
Also, before dealing with Vitalaire I went to three different companies and asked each of them to tell me why I should deal with them. The person I talked to from Vitalaire was “the only” one that truly impressed me and made me feel comfortable. This is not to say that other companies , in other locales, wouldn’t be better than Vitalaire. It is the people that make the company shine.

Julie wrote:You've had bad luck with one branch office... doesn't mean the rest are the same.

LOL I used them too. The RT looked across a desk and told me to hold the mask up to my face and then told me it couldn't possibly leak.
They are that bad.

No matter where you live, if you allow others to have all control
in your apnea treatment; expect the bare minimum.
Like diabetes care, YOU are the most important component of your treatment.