All DME's are NOT Equal

I've posted a bit about this before, but want to be a bit more specific. When I saw my sleep doctor the morning after my sleep study, was diagnosed and given a prescription for a CPAP machine I wanted it filled FAST so I could get on with things. It therefore seemed entirely reasonable to me to go to the Sleep Apnea Store just down the hallway from the Sleep Center. I didn't know at the time that the name for such a place is a DME.

So....I walked in and presented my prescriptions, and the first thing the manager said to me was "You know you don't have to get those filled here? Here's a list of suppliers who are much closer to your home and we've never heard any complaints about them."

I said, "nono. I would like you to fill these, if you wouild?"

Guy hands me off to a nice fellow who fetches four different machines, all of which were data capable and begins to ask questions about my preferences as he sets them all up for me to try. I liked the S9 Autoset (because it was data capable, and because I could throw the little water tub in the dishwasher). He spent about 35 minutes with me trying different masks, and then helping me properly fit the one I chose. After we had that all established, he spent about 40 minutes teaching me about the machine, the humidifier, the mask and how to care for them. He was thorough and knowledgeable.

If you ever need a sleep study, the Mayo Clinic is the place to go...they're amazing.

Cute !

You're right Steamfan,
All DME's are NOT Equal and I would have liked to have one as nice as yours. It's refreshing to know that some people still have a Heart and aren't just in it for the money.
Good for you.
Shar:)

I can vouch for Mayo, Rochester's, sleep clinic and CPAP Shop as well. WONDERFUL folk! One time I arrived at Mayo w/o my mask! The CPAP Shop manager, Bob Schumacher, was able to come up w/a mask for me to use while in Rochester at no charge. He was extremely helpful in trying to get my VPAP Auto set up comfortably for me in Spontaneous mode. I also had a bi-level titration on another visit. The sleep clinic itself is comfortable w/private baths and showers. I had two good sleep techs that I met. I would only advise that if you are scheduled w/Dr Bruce A Staats, you ask to consult w/a different Mayo sleep doctor. He is hell on wheels against patients having the software, rants about the unreliability of the PAP data, etc., etc. He is NOT Mayo calibre AT ALL!

Slinky wrote:I can vouch for Mayo, Rochester's, sleep clinic and CPAP Shop as well. WONDERFUL folk! One time I arrived at Mayo w/o my mask! The CPAP Shop manager, Bob Schumacher, was able to come up w/a mask for me to use while in Rochester at no charge. He was extremely helpful in trying to get my VPAP Auto set up comfortably for me in Spontaneous mode. I also had a bi-level titration on another visit. The sleep clinic itself is comfortable w/private baths and showers. I had two good sleep techs that I met. I would only advise that if you are scheduled w/Dr Bruce A Staats, you ask to consult w/a different Mayo sleep doctor. He is hell on wheels against patients having the software, rants about the unreliability of the PAP data, etc., etc. He is NOT Mayo calibre AT ALL!

Slinky,

Didn't I see on TV a while back that the Mayo is not taking Medicare anymore? Is that true?

Ed

I dunno! I sure as h*ll that is NOT true as Medicare is now my primary! *sigh* I've been relying on having Mayo to do my surgery that is inevitable but that I've managed to avoid so far. I might just as well slit my throat, wrists and back of my knees when the surgery becomes absolutely necessary if I can't have it done at Mayo!!!

I do know that Mayo was hit pretty hard by the financial market fiasco. And they've lost a lot of their international patient market to India, etc. I understand that they were considering or have set up Mayo Clinics overseas.

Slinky wrote:I can vouch for Mayo, Rochester's, sleep clinic and CPAP Shop as well. WONDERFUL folk! One time I arrived at Mayo w/o my mask! The CPAP Shop manager, Bob Schumacher, was able to come up w/a mask for me to use while in Rochester at no charge. He was extremely helpful in trying to get my VPAP Auto set up comfortably for me in Spontaneous mode. I also had a bi-level titration on another visit. The sleep clinic itself is comfortable w/private baths and showers. I had two good sleep techs that I met. I would only advise that if you are scheduled w/Dr Bruce A Staats, you ask to consult w/a different Mayo sleep doctor. He is hell on wheels against patients having the software, rants about the unreliability of the PAP data, etc., etc. He is NOT Mayo calibre AT ALL!

Slinky, did you ever have those 'puffs' resolved on the Auto in S mode? If so, what was the 'cure'?

Slinky wrote: I do know that Mayo was hit pretty hard by the financial market fiasco. And they've lost a lot of their international patient market to India, etc. I understand that they were considering or have set up Mayo Clinics overseas.

If they're losing market to India, I'd be very, very surprised. Last time I was down there, Rochester Aviation had a total of 23 foreign registered jets parked on the ramp. Including a couple of Saudi 747's.

The "cure" in Spontaneous mode is an RRT who knows what the h*ll they are doing, one who knows both respiratory conditions AND the Resmed PAPs. It was adjustments to Rise Time, to Triggering, Cycling and Sensitivity if I remember correctly.

I didn't say ALL their international patients, I said some of their international patients. There are still many coming here, just not AS many. India is narrowing the market.

It's true, not all DMEs are equal. I settled on the ResMed System One REMStar pro as the machine I wanted. I expected to have to fight tooth and nail, and wrung my hands and generally worked myself into a big ball of stress. I walk in, the nice lady hands me a System One REMSrat AUTO. That's right, I got an auto without even asking. She fits me with a perfect mask that so far has been so comfortable it's like it's not there. (Except when my nose itches!) She explained the return policy on masks, made sure I understood that she wanted me to be comfortable, and told me she'd call in a week to see how I was doing. So there are some good ones out there. If you're new, don't despair, some docs and some DMEs are really there to help you, not just make a quick buck. I think in part it depends on the medical culture in your area. I live in a small city with a big not-for-profit hospital that prides itself on being patient-oriented, responsive and egalitarian. Most docs around here share that attitude, and so do the DMEs apparently. I'm pretty sure i'd get screwed in my city of origin, which has several for-profit hospitals, a dearth of compassionate doctors, and a general medical culture that puts profit first and patients last. I could tell you hair-raising stories about some of the docs there.

Anyway, for new folks, there are some bad apples out there, but you might get lucky and find what I and some others have found-- excellent service and care.

It's not fair comparing the Mayo Clinic to other run of the mill DMEs.

That's like saying "I don't know why everyone is complaining about their Hyundais, my Mercedes runs fine."

Yeah, well the government kept referring to Kaiser and Kaiser practices as they were working on the Health Care Reform package and THAT scared the h*ll outta me! I was much more confident in the early stages when they referred to Mayo Clinic practices. I don't see diddley-squat in the Health Care Reform package that got passed that addresses any real cost savings.

FoxNewsFan wrote:

Slinky wrote:I can vouch for Mayo, Rochester's, sleep clinic and CPAP Shop as well. WONDERFUL folk! One time I arrived at Mayo w/o my mask! The CPAP Shop manager, Bob Schumacher, was able to come up w/a mask for me to use while in Rochester at no charge. He was extremely helpful in trying to get my VPAP Auto set up comfortably for me in Spontaneous mode. I also had a bi-level titration on another visit. The sleep clinic itself is comfortable w/private baths and showers. I had two good sleep techs that I met. I would only advise that if you are scheduled w/Dr Bruce A Staats, you ask to consult w/a different Mayo sleep doctor. He is hell on wheels against patients having the software, rants about the unreliability of the PAP data, etc., etc. He is NOT Mayo calibre AT ALL!

Slinky,

Didn't I see on TV a while back that the Mayo is not taking Medicare anymore? Is that true?

Ed

According to their website the hospitals participate with Medicare but the Clinic (physicians services) does not. They will file your claim for you, and if you live in Minnesota take assignment so that the check will come to them. If you live outside Minnesota they do not take assignment so the check will come to you and you'll have to pay them. (and your portion will be higher).
Donna

Ahhh! That part about not living in MN the Medicare checks for physician reimbursement come to my home instead. Our secondary insurance has never paid for our office calls (physician consults) so I didn't even notice I was paying a higher copay for the Mayo Physicians. They are worth it tho! - Except for Dr Bruce A Staats. "I" should have been paid for wasting my time w/him. He couldn't even get his office notes correct w/o covering his fanny w/untrue or inaccurate statements. I want to reiterate tho that I have absolutely NO COMPLAINTS about the sleep lab or the sleep techs or RRTs. Only w/Dr Staats.

Well I hit both the good and not so good DME's. The first one I went to got be the bottom line cpap with no data. When it wasn't working and I had read a little here I asked him to change it for a data ready machine. He said my insurance wouldn't pay for it (Lie) . So, I called my insurance and they said that it doesn't matter so I had the Dr. change my prescription and went to a different DME. He is great. He only offers APAP machines that are data capable. He is even selling me the software at cost (as soon as I get the money) not as cheap as cpap.com but close. He helped me with a mask that actually works. He has called me weekly to see how I am doing with it and we have made adjustments to make it work better than the origional prescription.