Has everyone gone insane? CPAP Monitoring/Modems & SD Cards?

jmmass wrote:I am not the paranoid type.....

....Your moron ham radio operator is probably reading your results every morning!

.... Are you really that nieve that you can't see how this mishandled?

I think your tinfoil hat has fallen off

Lizistired wrote:Last year I read about companies developing applications to track compliance of truckers while on the road.
If there is money to be made.........................

Or lives to be saved.....

BlackSpinner wrote:

Lizistired wrote:Last year I read about companies developing applications to track compliance of truckers while on the road.
If there is money to be made.........................

Or lives to be saved.....

The bad thing is the CDL people I know and strongly suspect have OSA won't even have a sleep study because they don't want it on their record. Snore, stop breathing, high blood pressure...

I got my first machine two weeks ago and IT HAS A CELPHONE MODEM... The rep told me that after a month of compliance, the modem gets picked up and returned to them. No more monitoring; that being at the end of one day, one week and one month.

She said some other interesting stuff:
she can adj pressure remotely (with a prescription, of course),
and can monitor all the data.

She didn't care that I was removing the data card to upload to my computer. I am glad I have that SD card because I can track my own data, and I made no attempt to hide that fact from her; in fact, I made clear that I wanted a data capable for that very purpose (thanks to you folks here for helping me with that!).

OH, BTW... I resent the rude comment regarding amateur radio operators! I am N6OMM.

Slartybartfast wrote:

JeffL wrote:Me too K3OHU

Yeah, what HE said! . _ _ / _ . . . / _ . . . . / _ / _ . . / _ . _ .

(CW, the last refuge of the radio nerd)

Well, WB6TDC, that's 4 hams here so far. There may be many more that haven't opened this thread. I wonder of there is an RF/OSA connection Of course we've now all given up our anonymity.

I just want a nickel everytime someone sells my personal data.

Adjusting pressure remotely once the modem is removed? If so, that's a bit freaky.

Phil_in_CA wrote:I got my first machine two weeks ago and IT HAS A CELPHONE MODEM... The rep told me that after a month of compliance, the modem gets picked up and returned to them. No more monitoring; that being at the end of one day, one week and one month.

She said some other interesting stuff:
she can adj pressure remotely (with a prescription, of course),
and can monitor all the data.

She didn't care that I was removing the data card to upload to my computer. I am glad I have that SD card because I can track my own data, and I made no attempt to hide that fact from her; in fact, I made clear that I wanted a data capable for that very purpose (thanks to you folks here for helping me with that!).

OH, BTW... I resent the rude comment regarding amateur radio operators! I am N6OMM.

No, ughwhatname, I should have been more careful in my writing...

Of course, once the modem is unplugged, the remote adjustment is not possible; except that she did say that if I brought in my SD card, she could put the codes on it to adjust my machine once the card was reinstalled! Or, if I needed an adj. she could mail a new SD card to me, for me to install and get the adjustment. Cool...

Well, that's a relief! I can see how making adjustments on the SD card can be convenient.

Phil_in_CA wrote:No, ughwhatname, I should have been more careful in my writing...

Of course, once the modem is unplugged, the remote adjustment is not possible; except that she did say that if I brought in my SD card, she could put the codes on it to adjust my machine once the card was reinstalled! Or, if I needed an adj. she could mail a new SD card to me, for me to install and get the adjustment. Cool...

JeffL wrote:Well, WB6TDC, that's 4 hams here so far. There may be many more that haven't opened this thread.

Sorry Phil, I didn't notice your call (besides, N's are for airplanes ). So that's 5 hams so far.
It's close to bedtime. Think I'll go monitor my neighbor's CPAP transmissions

Lets see, hmmm, could it be given to the RMV? How about your life insurance company? How about your employer if you work in a certain industry? Were you in a car accident this morning? Wait...the plantiff's attorney found out you have a CPAP with a data card? Have you been "compliant"? Let's get a court order and get those records...

Are you really that nieve that you can't see how this mishandled? Do you know that Sleep Apnea is a disqualifier for life insurance unless it is being treated? Are you going to trust that the data is not going to be used for other purposes? Let's just say that you are in compliance, but the machine registers the information incorrectly? This is so that your insurance company can save a few bucks? Lets remember: this is a replacement. Even if it were not...why would I want some unknown enity(s) monitoring me? It is insane.

They are only checking your compliance for 2-3 months. Then the modem is returned. I know several people who got a machine, and never made any real effort to use it. Why should the insurance company pay for it if we aren't going to use it? There are lots of "barely used" machines available on craigslist because people were prescribed a machine, but not serious about using it.

In my case, at the two month date, I received an envelope with a new SD card and a mailer to send in the old one. I already had a copy of the data, so I mailed back the first card. A week later, my paperwork went through, and my machine now belongs to me.

You can take the card out if you don't want any real data. Most of us use that data, and the card is required to get it into our computers. I also take my card with me to the doctor so that he can review my data and see if he thinks I need any changes in my therapy.

There are some jobs where compliance must be proven on a regular basis. Would you really like a bunch of semi truckers out on the road with sleep apnea and no treatment?

Personally, I don't see any harm in somebody knowing I have sleep apnea. I don't care if they know how many hours of sleep I get per night, or even how many apneas. It's not like I don't tell people here anyway. It's already out there, by my own hand.

I have Kaiser and Apria. I was not given a choice in my machine and I was given a plain old brick CPAP. I had to scream and fight and email my doctor everyday till she agreed to loan me one of their APAP machines with an SD card. I kept it for 4 weeks and when I went to return it, I had printed out all my data for her. She wouldn't even look at it. She didn't care. But apparently I fought enough because she let me take the loaner home again, and just today Apria called to tell me they are sending me a data capable APAP machine per my doctors request. I asked them what to do with the first one they sent me (The brick) and they said just keep it as backup. I see why compliance data is important to get insurance to pay the DMEs, but I had to beg and plead for my data machine. And actually, I wish it had some sort of wifi modem or network card because I would love nothing more than to have an app on my iPhone and iPad where I can just open the app and see all my data like AHI, leaks, etc.. I get tired of pulling the SD card out of the machine every day and putting it in my computer then having to remember to put it back in the xPAP machine before bed. I want a more technology in my machine. It's 2012! Is there an app for that? They have refrigerators that text you when you need milk, dryers that text you when your clothes are done, cars that call you when you need an oil change, why cant I have an APAP machine that texts me when my AHI was over 3 or my leaks were over x%?

And actually, I wish it had some sort of wifi modem or network card because I would love nothing more than to have an app on my iPhone and iPad where I can just open the app and see all my data like AHI, leaks, etc.. I get tired of pulling the SD card out of the machine every day and putting it in my computer then having to remember to put it back in the xPAP machine before bed. I want a more technology in my machine. It's 2012! Is there an app for that?

That would be so awesome!

I would love to have my graphs and daily reports available on my ipod. I guess we can start by asking them to make an app that will sync with the software on the computer. Then go wireless from there.

I did research the subject when I first got my machine. It used the AT&T cell phone network. So it is about as secure as a phone call. Who doesn't use a cell phone these days? - KA1BGI

I'm the person who was "rejoicing" about being able to return the modem and keep my machine. I share a lot of these concerns about privacy and misuse of information even though our CPAP data is covered by the The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. If you want to read about the law go here. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/un ... index.html