Why do DMEs seem to prefer ResMed?

Send Jencat824 a private message and ask her why she hated her Icon and finally got a PR S1 machine.
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=64174

She will be happy to tell you her experience

Just click on the link above and then click on "send a private message"

ResMed means less work. If you break your mask seal or take it off during sleep the machine will detect this and most importantly....do nothing. Since most users do not look at leak data or understand their machines they just deal with a bad therapy and put there life at risk. Other machines also detect this but sound an alarm so you can wake up and correct the situation.

ResMed is designed for DMEs not patients. Less calls....more money.

If the S9 could tell me my mask is not working and wake me up I would give it 5 stars.

imfletch wrote:I already have sleepyhead on my computer. Of course, all the graphs look like straight lines (from my Escape).

Can you post a screen shot of sleepy head with whatever data shows up. I've never seen sleepy head data from an Escape before.

I am going back to the DME in a few hours. I'm going to ask about another unit...even offer to "pay the difference" for a better unit. I'm betting I will be told "that's all there is." Of course, if I say I'm going to buy on line, they will say "well, you get no customer service." We will see.

imfletch wrote:they will say "well, you get no customer service.

Like how much service are they going to give you with the Escape..

BTW you can get masks using your insurance from any DME that works with your insurance (if your insurance has an in network thing) without having to purchase a machine from them.
Even this current DME who wants to give you the great service with the Escape.
But I am kind of funny about people who don't/won't do what I want...they don't get my business.
I fired my first DME for just that reason.

Masks and other supplies are not married to the purchase of a machine.

imfletch wrote: I, personally, think I want a Fisher-Paykal ICON,

If you want a quality machine with good data & free software access you DO NOT WANT AN ICON! Sorry to shout, but I was BURNED by the ICON. I had to purchase the software ($89) then had to jump thru hoops to make F&P think I was the DME to get the software (that I paid for!) to work past 30 days (not kidding!), then the software only gives you partial data, not enough to help base good treatment on. Also, my ICON was the Premo, which is straight CPAP & I has a pressure of 19cm which made it sound like a small jet plane taking off in my bedroom.

My DME gave me this unit (was replacing my near dead M series) without first checking with my Dr who had a FIT & requested the DME set me up with a PR S1 560 & I'm very happy with that unit. I found out thru using the auto unit that I don't need the pressure of 19, only using about 12-13 now, a big difference & I'm not having as many mask leaks now either.

I know I am coming across very strong, but its to help you in your decision making process. I'm strongly against the ICON due to my experience. I also know some DME's who don't really like that machine either, but their company wants it pushed so they have no choice. Personally I would not to sell a product I didn't believe in, but with the job market today, I guess you do what you have to.

Either ResMed or the Phillips Respironics have good units that are very data capable I'm sure you have seen the link to the list of good units, if not, I'll post it. This is not a case of liking just a BRAND, but of liking the usability & data capability of certain units. Some people here may feel differently about the ICON, its cute &looks good on your nightstand, but I found it to be a very expensive clock. I want more from my PAP unit than just looking pretty, I want the best data I can get and I want a steady air flow. I've also checked my ICON & the air flow is inconsistent. Now if I had been going to keep using that unit, I would have addressed that with my DME, but since I was getting another unit, I don't see the point.

I hope you can now make a good decision for you, please know I'm not trying to tell you what to do, just supplying you with my experience to help you in making your decision about your new machine.
Jen

ps - link to good info about PAP machines

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

Well, surprise, surprise...
A few minutes after I left, the DME called to say he had ordered me a S9 Autoset and I could bring my escape in tomorrow to swap it out.

Awesome! Congrats!

I think they're catching on that patients are catching on about brick machines

imfletch wrote:Well, surprise, surprise...
A few minutes after I left, the DME called to say he had ordered me a S9 Autoset and I could bring my escape in tomorrow to swap it out.

What wonderful news!!! So glad you were persistent and tried to get what you want. I love my S9 and I've only had it since Friday. I love reading all the data on my laptop. It's great encouragement to get better results!!! Congrats!!!!

Resmed makes the best masks, I would argue. Resmed machines also have some features that make them better and easier to work with. They can be adjusted in small increments of .2, whereas F & P and P & R it is just .5 increments. Resmed is a good machine, I think they are the best myself. With P & R a very close second, P & R machines are just as good except for the .5 increment adjustment thing. I do think Resmed has better masks, though.

DMEs prefer Resmed because if they can fit you with a Resmed mask easier, their job just got fifty times easier, immediately. Resmed probably saves a lot of DMEs a lot of money, by doing their job right the first time (making the masks well)

Eric

imfletch wrote:Well, surprise, surprise...
A few minutes after I left, the DME called to say he had ordered me a S9 Autoset and I could bring my escape in tomorrow to swap it out.

Id be glad. a lot of people would like to have an S9 Autoset but their DME refuses to carry them, dishing out the cheapo machines instead. I'd go with it. You got a good machine there. Sounds like me and my dealings with DMEs, I get what I want


Eric

imfletch wrote:Well, surprise, surprise...
A few minutes after I left, the DME called to say he had ordered me a S9 Autoset and I could bring my escape in tomorrow to swap it out.

Amazing what we get just by asking.
Good job. You will like the Autoset. You can still use your current humidifier...no need to change it.
It has a better enhance algorithm than the Escape too. Better machine all around.

Couple of hints...the default settings from the factory in regards to recording of data to the machine and SD card is for this setting...Sleep Quality...set to "usage"...this only gives hours of use. Most DMEs just leave it set to "usage"
You will need to change Sleep Quality ...set it to "On"...for you to get all the data the machine gathers.
Also make sure the clock is set to your time where you live.

You will need to know how to get into the clinical setup menu (the area where DMEs don't like for us to know about) to make the Sleep Quality change and verify clock.
Here's a link for the clinical manual that will explain how to get into that clinical setup menu and it has pictures to help you.
http://www.apneuvereniging.nl/forum/pdf ... manual.pdf

The S9 reports excess leak only...so your leak number to avoid is 24 L/min. Don't panic if you see some time above 24 L/min right now...short trips there are no big deal and you are going to have a lot of mask fiddling till you get mask fit just right.

I LOVE my Icon. It's quiet, comfortable, my AHI is low, I get restorative sleep, no more nasal stuffiness, and I've lost 27 pounds since I started using it. My pillow mask is fantastic, and I'd be lost without it. This comes from someone who was terrified that I'd feel suffocated, but after sleeping with correctly humidified filtered air, I wouldn't want to go back to life without it.

Remember "Autoset", not Escape Auto! It says what it is on the top by the power button.
There have been reports of some shysters trying to pass one off as the other. Beware.