Would a Private Boycot of ResMed be a Fair Tactic?

Jan, The e-mail address for ResMed is reception@resmed.com. I bought the software from cpapaustralia.com.

jnk wrote:That is only a wild assumption (aren't they all?) on my part, though.

Jeff I usu agree with your thoughts. But in this case you are waaay off in the weeds.

Getting to the root cause:
Who designed and developed the Resmed software? Well aware of the FDA rules and guidelines which BTW have NOT changed. The rules are just being enforced now, likely due to soo much publicity about OSA these days. Remember this when posting on an 'Open Forum'.

Resmed did this because they NEVER intended this software to reach the hands of their patients. Fact is you can change the pressure w/o the software, right?

I do agree the software makes it much easier to determine how your nite went with details. I am willing to try a Resmed (or another) machine but NOT without software.

If it wasn't Resmed who developed the software then they are excused. But then why haven't they developed software the patient CAN buy, easily. Will we have to start buying from street dealers?

What do you think, the entire world revolves around the USA?? We are NOT the sun! Resmed was an Australian company, producing an Australian product that was researched and developed in Australia and sold thru out the world, not just the USA. They are marketing to the world, not just the USA. Respironics wouldn't be where it is today if they hadn't "borrowed" some of the technology developed by Resmed.

I wish EVERYONE would write to Resmed requesting patient version software. I also wish EVERYONE would ask their doctor to script the software for them. Even if they opt to buy cheaper thru Australia - just to have the request for software on record and being brought to the attention of the entire sleep profession and medical profession for that matter.

GumbyCT wrote:

jnk wrote:That is only a wild assumption (aren't they all?) on my part, though.

Jeff I usu agree with your thoughts. But in this case you are waaay off in the weeds.

Getting to the root cause:
Who designed and developed the Resmed software? Well aware of the FDA rules and guidelines which BTW have NOT changed. The rules are just being enforced now, likely due to soo much publicity about OSA these days. Remember this when posting on an 'Open Forum'.

Resmed did this because they NEVER intended this software to reach the hands of their patients. Fact is you can change the pressure w/o the software, right?

I do agree the software makes it much easier to determine how your nite went with details. I am willing to try a Resmed (or another) machine but NOT without software.

If it wasn't Resmed who developed the software then they are excused. But then why haven't they developed software the patient CAN buy, easily. Will we have to start buying from street dealers?

No problem, GumbyCT, you are welcome to disagree with me any time.

With any other brand, I would say that "no software" would be a deal-breaker for me. So I agree with you in the majority of cases. But I also think ResMed deserves some credit for making so much data available from the screen. When will the other companies catch up?

I still think that requiring the public to buy software just to find out how last night went is ridiculous. ResMed lets you know your data from last night at the push of a button or two, including leak, AI, AHI, minute volume, tidal volume, respiration rate, and more, and lets you compare it to your numbers for the last week, the last month, the last six months, and the last year. And it has even included a way to make that available to a customer with a button push that does not allow changes to pressure to make it DME-friendly. That's going further out of the way than the other companies have to get good data into the hands of the user--again no software or computer or tech-ability required.

Now, ResMed has plenty to be embarrassed about, too, so I am not defending the company as a whole. I just think there are worse things they've done than allow the FDA to tell them what to do, and, for that matter, any boycott worth being private is worth being public.

I just know that if I had to tell some of my non-tech-oriented friends which machine to buy, I would want to suggest they buy the machine that gives them the most information without needing a computer, so they could adjust their therapy just like I adjust mine.

On the other hand, if someone wants to fit in the best at cpaptalk.com, they may want to think about getting a Respironics and the software to go with it.

I think you make good points, Gumby, as always.

jeff

While I don't like ResMed's lack of patient software, their restriction on international shipping by cpap.com, and their lack of integrity regarding the Swift LT nasal pillows quality issue, I don't think it is possible to start a boycott via this forum that has a prayer of being successful. If cpap.com's ResMed sales dropped to zero, the net affect on ResMed would be almost unnoticeable compared to the sales via Apria, Lincare and all of the other traditional DMEs.

Slinky wrote:What do you think, the entire world revolves around the USA?? We are NOT the sun! Resmed was an Australian company, producing an Australian product that was researched and developed in Australia and sold thru out the world, not just the USA. They are marketing to the world, not just the USA.

Poor Slink, thinks it's a personal attack on her. Who else thinks when you market to the world, you don't have to abide by the rules or laws of that area? Raise your hand!!!

Bless her heart, she's prob not sleeping well.

rosiefrosie wrote:This is the response to the e-mail I sent to them.



Dear Rosie,

Thank you for taking the time to email ResMed with your concerns. We appreciate the fact that you are actively involved with your therapy and want to manage it accordingly. Because these devices and masks are of prescription requirement, we cannot sell the ResScan software to patients. All of our previous software versions have been for clinical settings only and not intended for home use. The clinical software allows for changes in therapy pressures, modes, sensitivities where appropriate.

The restriction for clinical use is dictated by the FDA.

You may want to ask your physician for a prescription of the software that would allow you to purchase and make changes with his/her understanding that you will be in control of changing the prescription as you deem appropriate.

Once again, thank you for your email as we are tracking requests for a patient-friendly home version of software.

Best Regards,

Nichole

ResMed Customer Service

If ResMed is right in that all we really need to do to get the software is to have a prescription for it, then it isn't any harder to get than a machine and mask, these days, when you get right down to it.

I wonder if cpap.com could ever find a way to sell ResScan to a patient that sent a prescription specifically for it?

GumbyCT wrote:

Slinky wrote:What do you think, the entire world revolves around the USA?? We are NOT the sun! Resmed was an Australian company, producing an Australian product that was researched and developed in Australia and sold thru out the world, not just the USA. They are marketing to the world, not just the USA.

Poor Slink, thinks it's a personal attack on her. Who else thinks when you market to the world, you don't have to abide by the rules or laws of that area? Raise your hand!!!

Bless her heart, she's prob not sleeping well.

What she said seemed quite reasonable to me ?. Not sure why her post needs to be treated quite like this ?.

Cheers

DSM

jnk wrote:

rosiefrosie wrote:This is the response to the e-mail I sent to them.



Dear Rosie,

Thank you for taking the time to email ResMed with your concerns. We appreciate the fact that you are actively involved with your therapy and want to manage it accordingly. Because these devices and masks are of prescription requirement, we cannot sell the ResScan software to patients. All of our previous software versions have been for clinical settings only and not intended for home use. The clinical software allows for changes in therapy pressures, modes, sensitivities where appropriate.

The restriction for clinical use is dictated by the FDA.

You may want to ask your physician for a prescription of the software that would allow you to purchase and make changes with his/her understanding that you will be in control of changing the prescription as you deem appropriate.

Once again, thank you for your email as we are tracking requests for a patient-friendly home version of software.

Best Regards,

Nichole

ResMed Customer Service

If ResMed is right in that all we really need to do to get the software is to have a prescription for it, then it isn't any harder to get than a machine and mask, these days, when you get right down to it.

I wonder if cpap.com could ever find a way to sell ResScan to a patient that sent a prescription specifically for it?

JNK - Yup, good point.

If we look at the information presented thus far it is clear that if someone can't get their doctor to support them when Resmed say they will sell the software if a prescription for it is presented, then who gets the blame ? - I think I know who & it isn't Respironics or Resmed.

But, if Respironics can deliver a patient friendly version then so can Resmed & we can but hope that the comment made by their rep is accurate & that if enough people write to them, they should respond.

So, a campaign of writing to Resmed to ask for a patient friendly version is what we should be doing. Such a campaign makes a lot of sense to me.

DSM

I picked-up my ResMed cpap equipment in January. It so happened, I found this forum the same day. I was surprised to learn the I could access information via the LCD screen - I tried and I couldn't get anything. When I went back to the DME, I asked about the LCD, and why it didn't work. The Tech replied, You have been on one of those Sleep Apnea places on the internet. You have no right to that information, it is for Clinicians only, and it is locked.

Was I totally locked out, or was I so sleep deprived, I wasn't trying to access the LCD until afternoon? I don't know . . . I do know that my next visit to the DME, I met an understanding tech, I asked him about the data. He grinned and tinkered with the machine and the next morning, I could read my stats.

jnk wrote: ResMed lets you know your data from last night at the push of a button or two, including leak, AI, AHI, minute volume, tidal volume, respiration rate, and more.. .

Could I have had all information without the conspiratorial efforts of a tech? Bet someone will let me know.

Jan

From the "secret" clinical menu, one can enable or disable the display of efficacy data to the patient.

Do you have a ResMed machine now? If it's an S8 II model I can send more info on it.

I was given (sold) ResMed first -- both APAP and Swift LT -- so I don't know any different. I'm not in the market for another purchase, so obviously ain't part of a boycott. Also, I don't boycott without understanding the whole picture and who is actually being harmed by our not purchasing....the intended message often is lost.....

I was lucky to avoid *any* search for a workable mask, and I like that my mask and machine are by the same manufacturer --- although I would branch out if I had any need to.

I spent money I didn't really have available to get the reader and software late in 2008. Money well spent. For months I downloaded every few days to capture all the detail available. Since April 2009 until now, I have just continued to look at the LCD every morning, and since my hours of sleep have been improving, and my leaks are still well controlled, and mouth breathing is only occasional, and I have been feeling mostly decent and functioning a bit better, I have been less focused on getting all the details. I hurriedly loaded months of data to ResScan while at my recent doc appointment as I had not had the chance to do it before. My sleep doc feigned disapproval, and then said he appreciated that I was being easy rather than obsessive about the data. He was very pleased at my greatly improved trends of sleep length, timing of sleep, and my reports of slowly improving functioning. He said he'd be a very happy doc if even a quarter of his SDB patients showed improvements like mine. I reminded him that being educated and having access to info is a large part of my success in treatment.....

I know I got a bit off on a tangent there...... The software is an invaluable *home* tool, I believe. The morning LCD and how I feel help me decide how crazy I need to be about transferring detail (I don't have extra smart cards; otherwise it wouldn't be an issue). The software shows me trends, lets me manipulate, and if I have captured detail, lets me see *when* and how long my apneas are...... all of this has helped me get the best therapy I can. Having the software and using it daily for the first many months gave me a comfort that allowed me to ease up. The software helped me and my doc see that we are doing everything possible, and the sleep deficit and damage will take time to undo/repair/improve as it took over 30 years before therapy was provided.

Why diabetics can monitor and adjust at home as appropriate --- with proper medical coaching/support/education, and apneaics and other SDB sufferers cannot is beyond understanding....

J

rosiefrosie wrote ResMed, Ganesha wrote ResMed. Seems like a good idea.

Slinky wrote:I wish EVERYONE would write to Resmed requesting patient version software. I also wish EVERYONE would ask their doctor to script the software for them. Even if they opt to buy cheaper thru Australia - just to have the request for software on record and being brought to the attention of the entire sleep profession and medical profession for that matter.

dsm wrote:campaign of writing to Resmed to ask for a patient friendly version is what we should be doing. Such a campaign makes a lot of sense to me.

rosiefrosie not only wrote, she has the address

rosiefrosie wrote:Jan, The e-mail address for ResMed is reception@resmed.com. I bought the software from cpapaustralia.com.

I was going to write that my e-mail would be on its way in moments - at second thought,it's the weekend, I'll send mine Monday. Jan

jmd2857

I assure you, I wasn't trying to damage our host's business. I asked, would a PRIVATE boycot of ResMed be fair? I could have made myself clearer - I am irritated at ResMed. I personally, am, not going to buy a ResMed mask, chinstrap. etc. For the time being, I am privately boycotting their business.

Jan

I didn't read your post as against being cpap.com. And, in writing my reply I was assuming that the potential ResMed cpap.com customers would buy another brand from cpap.com.

I was just pointing out that the online cpap business is very small compared to all of the insured patients that are forced to go through DMEs.

The email writing is a better idea as most companies presume that for each correspondence received, there are many more people with the same feeling that do not make the effort to write, especially if the writings are individual, as opposed to a form letter.