Would a Private Boycot of ResMed be a Fair Tactic?

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.

Although I am very happy with my ResMed products, I am disappointed in the issue regarding software. I think a dose of consumer awareness is warranted. I sent the below comments via email July 3rd and did not recieve a response. I had an individual customer need a week previous and customer service was severely lacking. Previously, I have had excellent customer service response.

Perhaps we need to put our concerns in video format https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
Dear ResMed,

As you are likely aware, there is a concern among ResMed CPAP, APAP, and BIPAP
users regarding your elective action to prevent access of ResScan Software from customers. Patients/paying customers who are committed and highly involved in their treatment benefit from self monitoring/decision making involvement in their treatment.

Additionally, positive or negative marketing for ResMed products by ResMed response to customer requests is at risk. For example, you may wish to review cpaptalk.com recent threads regarding ResMed products. You will find some strong advocates of your products. However, recently ResMed is getting more negative marketing in the area of customer responsiveness. In a setting where your primary business competitor has a strong hold, please listen to the message of your committed customers.

I possess the ResScan 7 software. I receive clinical services from a sleep physician/clinic totally groomed in nonResMed products. I take my laptop to my appointments for my physician to review my treatment efficacy. I've also provided written reports to my physician upon request. My physician gives me an order for noting pressure change needs. He exhibits no signs of distress that I am actively involved in my treatment. I am a ResMed Marketing Representative ever time I go into my physician's office. I am an example where customer access to clinical data/software not only serves me the patient/customer well, but serves ResMed well too.

Please release the negative mindset about patients/customers being unable to make appropriate decisions about their health care. I once worked at a world famous medical institution where staff were directed never to cross campus streets without the flashing "walk" prompt as patients might follow into the pathway of traffic. Our patients were concerned, ill or healing, not stupid. Please treat sleep disorder patients with respect not control. Also, reinforce you marketing advocates to continue doing their job well.

Respectfully,
elg5cats

rooster wrote:
We need to kick the whole damn bunch out of Washington and start all over.

But we keep reelecting incumbents at a rate over 90%. I guess we American sheep get what we deserve.

You are so right - someday do an OT on term limits..

One of the main problems is the incumbent has the power to raise funds for the two or six year period. They get such a head start on the opposing candidate, it's almost impossible to raise an equal amount of money. Then we deal with name recognition.

Rooster, politics should be a natural bailiwick for you. Ever consider running?
Jan

What is the harm with looking at your data and tweaking your settings anyway? I mean really. Most people adjust (non DME) prescriptions all the time. Why all the control freaks in xPAP administration? Who benefits from all this lack of information and control?

Stacy

sleepypp wrote:What is the harm with looking at your data and tweaking your settings anyway? I mean really. Most people adjust (non DME) prescriptions all the time. Why all the control freaks in xPAP administration? Who benefits from all this lack of information and control?

Stacy

I agree, as far as I can see there aren't too many issues with people doing some experimenting but the FDA has other ideas. In the US you don't mess with the FDA. The one and only man to have all his books burned by the FDA was a famous psychiatrist who dared to claim he had a cure to neutralize some cancers.

They took him to court & demanded he recant, he refused so they burned all his works & banned them (ban lifted in the mid 1970s). He died in a federal penitentiary a year after being dragged off to jail. Not many people know this sort of thing can happen in the US.

So it is worth understanding that you don't mess with the FDA. They are the ones who set the policies regarding cpap prescriptions for cpap related material.


Cheers

DSM

GumbyCT wrote: They are marketing to the world, not just the USA.

Don't know about medical devices, but for prescription drugs, the US is between 40% and 50% of the global market, depending on the particular year under consideration. The figures are from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association ("PhRMA") and my memory. Any inaccuracies in reporting are mine.

Hey, Jan, I tend to cut my nose off to spite my face on occasion too. The last I read Resmed was being quite attentive and responsive to the Swift LT issue.

And, dsm, don't worry about GumbyCT. Its just Gumby's way of letting me know that he's willing to rattle my chain and let me rattle HIS chain so that I don't miss SnoreDog too too much.

And WHY aren't we all writing to our idiots in Washington who are considering how best to mess w/our healthcare about access to our CPAP data, access to the software, being treated like morons who can't handle our therapy w/guidance like the diabetics, etc., etc., etc.

Statements from ResMed about market location and how, in the US, their success, and the success of companies like them, has a lot to do with how they deal with insurance, the FDA, and the DMEs:

"Approximately half our revenues are generated outside the U.S., in over 70 different countries. . . . Sales in North and Latin America accounted for 49%, 53% and 52% of our [ResMed's] net revenues for fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. . . . Sales in Europe accounted for 43%, 39% and 39% of our total net revenues for fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. . . . Sales in Asia Pacific and the rest of the world accounted for 8%, 8% and 9% of our total net revenues for the fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. . . .

"In the United States, our products are purchased primarily by home healthcare dealers, hospitals or sleep clinics, which then invoice third-party payers directly for reimbursement. Domestic third-party payers include Medicare, Medicaid and corporate health insurance plans. These payers may deny reimbursement if they determine that a device is not used in accordance with cost-effective treatment methods, or is experimental, unnecessary or inappropriate. . . .

"Even though we do not file claims or bill governmental programs and other third-party payers directly for reimbursement for our products sold in the United States, we are still subject to laws and regulations relating to governmental programs, and any violation of these laws and regulations could result in civil and criminal penalties. . . . FDA is authorized to establish special controls . . . Non-compliance with applicable requirements can result in import detentions, fines, civil penalties, injunctions, suspensions or losses of regulatory approvals, recall or seizure of products, operating restrictions, refusal of the government to approve product export applications or allow us to enter into supply contracts, and criminal prosecution. . . .

"Our business depends on our ability to market effectively to dealers of home healthcare products and sleep clinics. We market our products primarily to home healthcare dealers and to sleep clinics that diagnose OSA and other sleep disorders. We believe that home healthcare dealers and sleep clinics play a significant role in determining which brand of product a patient will use. The success of our business depends on our ability to market effectively to home healthcare dealers and sleep clinics to ensure that our products are properly marketed and sold by these third parties. . . . "

-- http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_fil ... 2008AR.pdf

Slinky wrote:The last I read Resmed was being quite attentive and responsive to the Swift LT issue.

Hmm. To a point. But I guess you have not read "the rest of the story," starting here....
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41729&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... 75#p381429

I will give you not only one but 3 reasons to boycott ResMed :

1- The decision to stop the distribution of the software to Americans but as a matter of fact to many countries that get it from USA. Try to find a professional who will sell it to you in Canada

2- The pressure on American DME not to sell equipment to Canada. They play the game of Canadian DME ant THEIR game which is to sell to Canadians the equipment at an incredible price, sometimes 2 and 3 times the American price.

3- The pressure applied from ResMed and others to require a prescription for masks and machine related devices. That is also to protect the DME business as other stores would also sell masks.

That is enough as far as I am concerned. That company is not patient oriented. Money is their first priority and only goal. So let's talk money with them.

apnez wrote: . . . let's talk money with them . . .

Uh, good luck with that.

"Fiscal year 2008 was yet another record year for ResMed as we achieved $835.4M in revenues, an increase of 17% over 2007 revenues."

--http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_fil ... 2008AR.pdf

JayC wrote:.......... 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.....

J

Yes J, if that doc is serious about his statement he would tell all patients to get the software and get active at cpaptalk.com .

I'll have to remember that when I have discussion with doctors and other medical professionals: "Do you want your patients to brag about high compliance and low AHIs? Then have them buy the software and join cpaptalk.com."

SaltLakeJan wrote: ........
Rooster, politics should be a natural bailiwick for you. Ever consider running?
Jan

Since I made my first post on this forum, that is the nastiest thing anyone has said about me.

I'll throw his statement back to him (and add yours) at my next appt in 6 months....

rooster wrote:

JayC wrote:.......... 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.....

J

Yes J, if that doc is serious about his statement he would tell all patients to get the software and get active at cpaptalk.com .

I'll have to remember that when I have discussion with doctors and other medical professionals: "Do you want your patients to brag about high compliance and low AHIs? Then have them buy the software and join cpaptalk.com."

The decision of resmed is perhaps related to the fact that you can get very easily the software for free.
The only thing you have to do is type resscan 3.7 on google and several sites have it ready to download and it works great
Limiting the access of the software will probably reduce the risk of free use through fraudulent downloads.... at least they hope so

Oh Rooster,
A study of past and ongoing politics is favorite pastime of mine . . . when I wrote:

SaltLakeJan wrote:

Rooster, politics should be a natural bailiwick for you. Ever consider running?

I didn't intent to insult the Rooster . . . never I've got better sense that that

I considered that you seemed to have the necessary attributes to be a maverick politician who could turn Washington on it's ear. Your crazy sense of humor could be an asset in Washington. You'd never be impressed by the so-called dignitaries.

Friends???

Jan