S9 Autoset prescription - example?

yardbird wrote:So I guess knowledgeable cpap patients are still very much the minority.... unfortunately.

Just before Christmas I went to the DME (to check time allowance for a new full mask setup) that I get my masks and supplies from. We chatted a bit about things and my new excursion with the BiPap. He told me that I was one of only 2 patients that he deals with that cares a hoot about anything more than putting the mask on. The rest never question and when he tries to explain the "whys" they just pooh pooh him off and tell him to "make it work so I don't have to worry about it". While those of us here do care...we are a very small minority. We also tend to take a much more proactive stance on any of our healthcare issues.
Some people simply don't care. That's fine I guess. I just feel sorry for those who quit without ever knowing that sometimes the solution is so very simple.

Stick to your guns!! It just pays to be informed. They make lots of money off of those who aren't.

If you'll search my last post, I'm doing the same thing because my cpap is no longer giving me correct time used.
I called Apria "politely" stating my case that I want to exchange my cpap for an auto. She was very helpful. She also stated that Apria needed a prescription from my doctor to change it to an auto which I'm rather surprised since they already have one for a regular cpap. I'm trying a new tactic: Be polite, not mean and nasty. I called my PCP today at the medical desk. I told her what Apria said, she said "No problem, I'll get on this right away and contact them with orders." HOWEVER, I repeated twice and made both Apria and medical desk repeat what I stated so there was absolutely no misunderstanding of what I requested. I've previously gotten the wrong mask from Apria, that's why I did this.
Best of luck to the both of us.

Starlette

yeah, I was in an office talking to an RT from the DME and I looked at the machine and it said "Escape Auto" on it. So I asked, "Will you be setting this up for me initially?" and he said that of course he would set it up. So he set my pressure range according to the prescription. I said, "Can you set the auto-on for me please?" He said, "Sure thing." and then he proceeded to try to FIND it in the clinical setup. He called his boss in (one of the owners) and the boss placed a call to ResMed while I was sitting there and I could hear the ResMed person say, "...and which machine is this? Oh, that machine doesn't have that feature."

Done deal. I said, "You've just found one feature this machine doesn't have that the S9 AutoSet does have. There are more, like Mask Fit and full data recording. This is why my prescription says S9 AutoSet."

I think they were embarrassed that I knew more about the machines than they did. Now in fairness to the DME, go look at ResMed's web site and look at the number of different models that come up when you click "S9 Series" on their home page. There are 9 machines in the series. Some obviously specialized, but many falling into the general category of CPAP. From the discussion we had, one in which they were very candid and apparently open with me, I gathered that they thought the only difference between the Escape Auto and the S9 AutoSet was that the S9 "somehow scores centrals".

How is it they didn't know the product line thoroughly? They have a crappy local ResMed sales rep. Their old sales rep used to come in and show them the machines, run through all the features, give them literature showing the differences, etc. And their previous rep would stop in just to see how they were doing, answer question, bring donuts . Their NEW sales rep never stops in and the only contact they have with him is when they want to place an order.

We talked for an ENTIRE HOUR and it was very cordial. They made it clear that they've never had a CPAP patient who had such a clear understanding of the therapy and machines and I made it clear that I wasn't there to beat them up and make them lose money and that I knew how the billing codes worked, but if this wasn't going to work for them financially, that I'd have to thank them for their time and move on so I could get what I needed.

Overall the conversation left me with a new perspective of the DME's side. Some DMEs are just crappy because company policy makes them go for every dime regardless of the patient. They're there to sell equipment. Other DMEs are really patient oriented and in this particular case they were not given proper training from the MANUFACTURER and it made them look bad. So before I go bashing all DMEs in the future or a particular DME, I'm going to try to remember to have a look at what tools they have to work with.

yardbird,

A bad rep from Resmed is undoubtedly a big problem for a DME.

However, the DME does have hard copies of the clinical manuals for each of the machines they sell. And it's not too much to expect an RT to be able to read the clinical manual. It's quite clear from the clinical manual that the Auto Escape does not have features such as auto on/off, mask fit, and full leak data. It's also clear from the clinical manual that the only data recorded are compliance data, an unbroken down AHI number, and the pressure levels.

That's a good point.

Sometimes, you will find someone who is willing and even interested in learning how to do things right. Everyone we can educate about what the CPAP can do is a victory for us all.

I've always hoped one of my other doctors would express an interest in CPAP. Heck, I'd even go bring in my machine and laptop and show them what you can do with CPAP. Maybe even give a demo for the whole clinic.

I'd be careful I don't get charged for an office visit, though.

I've tried to convince my dentist he needs CPAP because of some of the things he's said. Funny how medical professionals are just as bad or worse than the rest of us as patients.