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Permalink Reply by jeff duncan on December 1, 2009 at 4:34pm

all mask that leave the office and returned due to no charge refit policy get exchange by the manufacturer for new ones and are not given to patients, open bags are often because they are showen to patients in the office and cleaned with madawipes

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Permalink Reply by KAL on December 1, 2009 at 10:04pm

When I worked for a DME company and a person brought back a mask for the 30 day exchange we filled out the paperwork and sent the used mask back to the manufacture for a credit.
We had like a "patient showroom" and setup,instruct and try on mask, if we opened a mask and the patient did not like it, we would use it for parts , and only if someone came in with a broken mask we could switch pieces and tell them this is used go home and clean it, and there was no cost to the patient or insurance company.
Personally I have never recieved a opened mask when I order a new one every 3 months from my DME.

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Permalink Reply by birdshell on December 3, 2009 at 11:33pm

I do not believe that there is a difference between the masks used in labs and those sold for the home user. Note: there is at least one mask that is disposable, for short term use...maybe in a hospital situation?

Labs are, in my experience, required to clean a mask (with their procedure) only a given number of times, usually 10-15 times from reading my patient literature. I remember being astounded that my mask could only be cleaned for 15 weeks, but then cleaning once a week would mean 4 masks per year--which is the replacement schedule for some masks. So, of course I re-read the section and finally determined that I had missed the designation of lab cleaning vs. home practices. BTW, doesn’t that imply that the lab is giving you a used mask for your titration?

I do not mind having a used mask personally, because I know that I will clean it well. A respected RPSGT sleep tech told me that a mask could be cleaned with a 5-10% bleach in water solution. If there is a used mask I want to try, then I do that after washing the mask and rinsing with hot water. I then repeat the washing and cleaning procedure followed by my regular soak of 10% vinegar in water.

And, when I turned in my first original Swift, the RT told me that it was going to be used in the lab where I'd had my study...after she bleached it. And: no, she was not the RPSGT who told me that bleaching was OK!

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Permalink Reply by Toni Cacioppo on December 5, 2009 at 9:27pm

i part vinegar to 3 parts water. soak 30 minutes, rinse, air dry

99 said:

what percentage of water to vinegar

Sharon Fine said:

I always soak mine in diluted vinegar/water solution.

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Permalink Reply by Toni Cacioppo on December 5, 2009 at 9:32pm

I NEVER give out used masks!! In my practice, I have a variety of masks on display. While with the patient, I evaluate shape of face, size of nose, ask questions (claustrophobia, mouth breathing, etc) and make a few judgement calls about which masks might work best. I show those masks, explain pros and cons and then the patient makes a selection. The display masks are used to teach patients how to disassemble/reassemble for cleaning, various adjustments,etc. The patient is informed of our 30 day mask guarantee. If you don't like it, bring it back within 30 days for different mask. . .used masks are discarded, display masks are wiped down after handling - they are NEVER tried on a patient!

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on December 5, 2009 at 11:39pm

I wish all DME providers were as helpful as those on the forum!!!

Maybe we could clone them and replace the ones that give us fits in our local DME offices.

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Permalink Reply by mountainman on December 6, 2009 at 12:04am

i just read that us users can buy the same cleaning solution the labs use and it not only kills common germs but also common flu and h1v1 viruses --- a good buy even if the mask or tubing is sealed --- used masks are usually kept by the owner to do with as they want ---- i keep mine for spare parts as i break the attatchment notches off for the headgear sometimes -- otherwise they are to be destroyed

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