DME practices

Mattman, I "can" understand where you are coming from about so many patients not seeming to be interested, saying they weren't instructed about filters, etc. and I can even understand that you've reiterated the important points several times.

It still all boils down to you are talking to and instructing a sleep deprived patient, new to all of this PAP business, probably stressed from the newness of it all, many times not even well-informed of what is going on by the sleep lab or tech who've just plain fallen into information-overload and actually "can't" grasp and retain much of anything they're told no matter how patiently. Its like they grasp the first few points and then the rest get lost in confused, sleep-deprived brain circuits.

That has happened to me many times. The more ill or tired I am the less I grasp from my doctor visits. I remember the first part/subject of our appointment and the rest gets lost in my memory bank somewhere, or never makes it to my memory bank no matter how much I try to concentrate.

Remember, being sleep deprived robs us of much of our nightime memory filing and things tend to get filed in the wrong "folder" or even into "file 13".

I'm glad that you will be asking if you can keep the unwanted pillows, etc. from now on because I strongly agree that NOT doing so and just keeping the apparently unneeded items included in the package we are paying for is fraudulent and I feel strongly about this! VERY strongly.

I'm a co-moderator for a very busy online health forum with clear links to many aspects of this health problem and I know there are times I get jaded at having to answer the same question time and time again when there is an OBVIOUS link to that very subject right under their nose and at their fingertips so I can see your point, honest injun. But you are getting PAID for what you do, the poor befuddled sleep deprived patient is the one who is PAYING and paying dearly for HELP. No matter they have insurance or Medicare doing the bulk or all of the paying, health insurance is NOT cheap and Medicare came from our taxes. Even employer provided health benefits are paid for via less hourly or salary wages thru the years.

Its easy to assume the patient is too darn lazy to look up the answer themselves or do a google search, whatever. BUT there are times when you are tired, feeling rotten that you really just 'can't' find the info yourself even if its right in front of you in a booklet or piece of paper.

There is one other option for "snagging" the extra bits & pieces of CPAP gear. When I got my first 431, my DME snagged the small & medium seals, but they gave me 2 large seals. I was happy & they added an extra seal to their supply.

CRMW

What Slinky said about being sleep deprived!

The first DME lost I dealt with lost me as a consumer for "snagging" stuff and not asking. It sounds as if it is common practice. I really would not have minded if they had asked if I knew for sure they were not profiting from the stuff..... again!!

I have to comment on Mattman's comment that so many people don't care and don't take care of their machines.

Yes I saw that at the DME when I picked up my machine. Sad but true.

Some guy was standing there with a short tube. He needed a new one since it leaked somehow. (so old it probably cracked from age) It was so yellow (was supposed to be clear) that it was truly disgusting. If my clear tube looked like that I would have stocked a replacement ages ago. Looked like something I could even get at home depot off a roll in a pinch.

He was miffed that the DME couldn't provide a replacement on the spot.

So I see his point that he overwhelmingly sees people who don't care.

I have to say that as a DME provider I do not "snag" extra parts from patients. It is always in the patients best interest to have options that they pay for. I do have a stocked parts area that I paid for just like you would have to. But I do agree with Mattman that it can be very frustrating. The patients on this site are lightyears ahead of the common CPAP patient. My most recent experience is with a patient who had broken a piece of his mask and wanted a replacement part. He had only brought in the broken part and I did not recognize it. I had to ask him to bring in the entire mask. When he did, it was obviously a mask that had not been manufactured in at least 10 years. He had boasted when he came in that he had all his original equipment from 12 years ago when he started treatment. (I had not originally set this man up, he was set up by a national company) Now, I am 9 months pregnant, so smells get to me a little bit more than most, but being an RT I can usually handle anything. This mask smelled so bad that I had to leave the room so I would not get sick. I gave the patient all of paperwork for a new set up so that he would know that supplies do need to be replaced. We went over cleaning of equipment and everything for an hour. In the end he did not want to buy a new mask. I was able to find a part that would work for his mask, but how am I supposed to be responsible for his care if he will not make an effort. I am not someone that pushes parts on a patient, or trys to sell people of replacement supplies, but in this case he really needed it. It was not a money issue either, I have a supply of masks that are trial masks that I would have given him, his insurance covered replacement supplies at 100%. It is very discouraging somedays. This forum opens your eyes to people that really care and take responsibility for their treatment. It is a refreshing break form the everyday. I would love to be able to help anyone of you anyday.

A lot of new patients getting equipment or supplies should BEWARE of thses shady DME practices.

Buyer Beware. More like patients Watch OUT. Really!

(((hugs))) KansasRt. I haven't seen you here in quite a while. I don't know if I just haven't been reading the right posts or if you've been busy. Whichever, its good to see you post. Thanks you. And MattMan too.

lol. Check the dates - it was a 3 year long dead topic that was resurrected