What training does a DME Consultant have to have

If I answered my own question I would reply - none.

I learned in counselling that that someone with a little knowledge, or incorrect knowledge, can appear to be an expert to someone with no knowledge at all.

So I wondered - what is the criteria for someone to be employed to advise users on what machine or mask they should have, and to have authority to make settings that can be so important to us.

It seems that if you can recognise what AHi means on a report then that is all you need to know. For the rest - it doesn't matter. As long as the AHi is less than 10 (my ex-sleep medical specialist) or round about 5 (my ex DME Consultant) then the rest of the report is irrelevant (or maybe they cannot read it).

I also get the - as long as you are feeling better that is all that matters. Given that sleep apnea can cause brain and sexual dysfunction, as well as stroke and heart problems, and exacerbate reflux (I have Barretts Esophagus) then what I want is to reduce apnea events to the lowest minmum possible. Feeling better is just not good enough. But that appears to be the standard medical aim.

Pathetic.

So - what real qualifications do these people have to have, or am I just dreaming to even ask!

cheers

Mars

NB********* I initially used the title "Respiratory Therapist" instead of DME Consultant, due to my own ignorance. This explains the first lot of posts. When we cleared that up I was able to make the necessary correction.

I can't tell you what training one needs to be a registered RT but I can tell you that it doesn't have to be an RT who sets up your CPAP, who fits you for a mask, who "educates" you how to care for your equipment, etc. As long as the local DME supplier employs an RT who "supervises", other DME supplier staff can actually be the ones to set up your CPAP, fit you for a mask, etc. AND make changes to your therapy settings ACCORDING to prescription provided by your doctor.

mars wrote:If I answered my own question I would reply - none.

I learned in counselling that that someone with a little knowledge, or incorrect knowledge, can appear to be an expert to someone with no knowledge at all.

So I wondered - what is the criteria for someone to be employed to advise users on what machine or mask they should have, and to have authority to make settings that can be so important to us.

It seems that if you can recognise what AHi means on a report then that is all you need to know. For the rest - it doesn't matter. As long as the AHi is less than 10 (my ex-sleep specialist) or round about 5 (my ex RT) then the rest of the report is irrelevant (or maybe they cannot read it).

I also get the - as long as you are feeling better that is all that matters. Given that sleep apnea can cause brain and sexual dysfunction, as well as stroke and heart problems, and exacerbate reflux (I have Barretts Esophagus) then what I want is to reduce apnea events to the lowest minmum possible. Feeling better is just not good enough. But that appears to be the standard medical aim.

Pathetic.

So - what real qualifications do these people have to have, or am I just dreaming to even ask!

cheers

Mars

Are you condemning the whoie group or did you have a particular one in mind?

SAG

SAG

I thought I was asking a question following my experience.

Sorry you did not understand it that way.

cheers

Mars

Well then, "following your experience", how many respiratory therapists have you worked with?

SAG

SAG

If you do not want to address the question, there is no point in posting.

If you want to find out how many Rt's people have been to before they are allowed to comment on them, I suggest you start a new thread.

Mars

In this country, 2 and half to 4 years of university and clinical training resulting in AS or BS followed by the successful completion of two national exams.

Now how many respiratory therapists have you dealt with?

SAG

SAG

If what you say is true, then probably none.

Australia may well have different standards from whatever country your standards apply to.

Perhaps I used the acronym RT incorrectly. I have seen one medical sleep specialist and 4 "consultants" who profess to be able to give me expert information. I doubt that they have the qualifications that you mention, therefore I will not call them RT's as that is obviously wrong.

Thank you for helping me sort that out.

cheers

Mars

Unless the RT actually works in a sleep lab situation MOST of their work is done w/pulmonary patients, those needing oxygen supplementation.

Except for those local DME suppliers who specialize in respiratory equipment only (which would usually include xPAPs) xPAP equipment and supplies are a small part of their business. Oxygen supplmentation therapy is a MUCH larger share of their business. It wouldn't be unexpected then that they would stress 02 therapy experience over xPAP experience when hiring.

In addition, many RTs do not work for local DME suppliers but in actual hospital settings and often saving lives. The son of my best friend was an RT at our local hospital when they had a critical patient to be air lifted to a university hospital a considerable disance away. I don't know how long the helicopter ride actually lasted. It is a two hour drive by car. But this young man, a well-trained and conscientious RT, opted to make the air lift w/his patient to "bag" him all the while BECAUSE he didn't feel the equipment would do the job that needed to be done. It was his option, he wasn't asked or ordered to. His patient did live tho it was touch and go for quite some time.

I will now change the heading from Respiratory Therapist to DME consultant, as I have obviously got them mixed up. I should not guess about these things and I apologise if I have upset anybody.

Having been tested for Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Disorders I know that I sometimes do not make the correct connection or assumption.

Getting angry with newcomers is probably not the best way to help them! Obviously I had got it wrong, so putting me down is not really helpful.

cheers

Mars

DME RT's are required to be trained? I say assume no training - that way you won't be disappointed.

My experience with my DME shows what Slinky said to be true. You would expect those who answer the DME phone line and dispense advice would have some training. I didn't realize this until the girl called to tell me that Innomed Nasal Aire II (prongs) were the same as what I ordered, Aeiomed Nasal Headrest (pillows). I thought perhaps she knows something I don't, NOT.

The 1st RT visit I had the girl was fresh out of college and told me so, a local community college of which I am a huge fan. When I asked her what they taught about sleep apnea, she told me she never even heard the words until she got this job. Obviously, they hadn't taught her to lie yet but that IS what I liked most about her, the honest answers she gave. If she didn't know she told me so. I can deal with honesty must better than I can lies.

Other RT's I have been exposed to are undergoing OJT (On the Job Training) from hospital RT to DME or Sleep
tech's. While they may have extensive experience in a hospital environment that is completely different from the sleep field.

My experience with sleep techs has been completely different. I honestly think they should be considered two different fields and certainly the sleep related RT's need more training.

GumbyCT who is glad his heart doc didn't perform his brain surgery.

Well, there are clearly RTs and RRTs across the entire spectrum of competence, as with any profession. And there are clearly RPSGTs across the entire spectrum of professional competence as well. Then if you put those two professional credentials together, that same statement probably stands true.

However, I think that by the time a clinician goes out of their way to achieve both of those credential sets, they are probably not typical "slacker" material. Below are professional board links that describe those two professions and their training credentials in the U.S.:

The National Board for Respiratory Care

Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists

A DME provider is often not a clinician aside from dispensing durable medical equipment. However, any given DME provider may have health-related credentials aside from basic DME qualification. As a side note, StillAnotherGuest carries the first two professional credentials linked above, as well as other professional health-related credentials.

In addition, it has been only relatively recently that Respiratory Care Practitioner Schools have been adding the study of sleep to any extent in their curriculae (let's see what spellcheck does to that one). As a matter of fact, a very progressive sleep lab that I know of is taking on an RCP intern for the summer.

Now if you wanna ask me where the top half of RCP school graduates tend to end up...

SAG

StillAnotherGuest wrote:Now if you wanna ask me where the top half of RCP school graduates tend to end up...

That's one I have no good feel for.

If you tell us "sleep" then my heart is going to sing. But if you tell us "not sleep" then my heart is going to be hard-pressed for lyrics. Sleep??

-SWS wrote:Well, there are clearly RTs and RRTs across the entire spectrum of competence, as with any profession. And there are clearly RPSGTs across the entire spectrum of professional competence as well. Then if you put those two professional credentials together, that same statement probably stands true.

However, I think that by the time a clinician goes out of their way to achieve both of those credential sets, they are probably not typical "slacker" material. Below are professional board links that describe those two professions and their training credentials in the U.S.:

The National Board for Respiratory Care

Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists

A DME provider is not a clinician (aside from dispensing durable medical equipment), but may have health-related credentials aside from basic DME qualification. As a side note, StillAnotherGuest carries the first two professional credentials linked above, as well as other professional health-related credentials.

Hi, Nice to know about the background of StillAnotherGuest. It seemed pretty obvious to me , by their comments, that StillAnotherGuest is trained.

IMHO: It would be nice if members with "Professional" or "Business Interests in the field" would be upfront about this. Otherwise, there is always a "question" as to their motivation. Don't get me wrong, it is clearly very helpful to receive their information, experience and opinions. I just don't think that they should hide their credentials.