"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Call To Arms
First I want to apoligize for not being as involved with sleepguide these last few months. I check in everyday although I have not posted as much lately. Today I write to you not as sleeptech or sleep professional, but as bad sleeper and PAP user. While I have not been as personally involved I have been listening, paying attention, and taking notice of everything.
The sleep industry is in disarray. It has become apparent to me that the industry will not survive without help. The BRPT, AASM and the puppet groups that belong to each are failing all of us. No one is policing anything other than their own personal agendas. Sleep labs everyday are breaking off from the AASM and going rogue. Inter-lab reliability and diagnosis are all over the place. Accountability is at an all time low in this industry. The entire medical practice is poised for a complete take over by the insurance companies. We can't allow this to continue.
I am not here to force or push my views on anyone. I do not care if you are for the HST vs the PSG, or Auto-titration vs in lab treatment. All I ask is that you share your own views and opinions on the going ons of the sleep industry. Do not allow the potential of this great industry and medical practice slide backwards any further. I implore each of you to speak up in your local awake group, contact your local and national sleep societies, as well as your legislative reps. Let them know what you as PAP users, bad sleepers, and the victims of good and bad medical treatment want. You as the end users represent a far much bigger sleep group than any of the above mentioned organizations. It is way past time for your voices to be heard. Do not let them take away future diagnosis and treatment for those that come after us.
Do not forget that you can voice your opinions with our very own Mike Goldman here on SG. Mike sits on the BRPT board as a patient advocate.
The bean counters have had their say. Now it's your turn! I am here if anyone has questions.
Rock Hinkle
Views: 124
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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I started SleepGuide.com first and foremost to critique the providers of care in this industry. It was sorely needed then when I started it, and continues to be today. I support Rock's "call to arms" -- let the dialogue rock on!
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by the way, Welcome Back, Rock! you're a valuable member of the SleepGuide family and a good friend to myself and many, many other patients the world over.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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Rock, I really don't know what to say to this as a lay person. You as a Sleep Professional, and Mike have much greater insight into the workings of the Sleep Industry. I only have my experience with the two doctors and two sleep labs I have been involved with. I really have no complaints about either, though one is clearly superior to the other. I have no idea as to the politics involved, or what particular accredidation they have or the qualifications of the techs.
I just want a good doctor who knows sleep medicine and perhaps more about the effects of different meds and medical conditions on OSA. I want a qualified tech performing my sleep study. I have recently read some research from 2005 regarding the effects of SSRI's on OSA and sleep architecture. I believe all sleep doctors should be aware of this research, and effects of other meds and medical conditions on OSA. But this is not politics.
I have no idea of the politics of the different governing bodies involved or how to tell them what I want- I don't know, except perhaps a single set of standards for diagnosing and treating SDB.
Often an orginization lobbying for a change in policies will draft a letter which can then be sent to the appropriate authorities. As I said, I have no personal knowledge of the goings on in the sleep industry. Perhaps you can list the important points to be addressed.
I think of this forum as a way for SDB patients to support one another and to work through problems with therapy and other aspects of their care. Other forums are aimed more towards self contol of your prescription and current research.
Do you find unity of standards and treatments in regards to psychiatry, heart and lung disease, diabetes?
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Permalink Reply by Chris H on
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Hi Rock, As Mary stated we do not know the chaos that is brewing just the bits and pieces we see posted here once in a while. It is still a fairly new field evolving .........Science not bean counters should dictate treatment . Good Sleep,Chris
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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Chris, Mary you do not have to know or understand the chaos that is brewing. Honestly alot of it is well over my head. The politics are set. Now come the changes. It is these changes that we as a patient advocacy board can and should have some control over. The money will not be affected. They are making dam sure of that. It will be the treatment and Diagnosis of ourselves and the people we care about that will suffer.
"Do you find unity of standards and treatments in regards to psychiatry, heart and lung disease, diabetes?"
I do not feel that there is any unity of standards and treatments when it comes to sleep. Everyone seems to have their own set of rules. Your post described you very own set of needs. These are the things that the above organizations need to hear.
Sleep is not that new anymore. The science has been around since the end of the 19th century. Even if it were new we can no longer sit on the excuse that it is still evolving. Evolving and improving are not always the same thing.
Some things that might interest you:
The national organizations are trying to control the state sleep orgs. The state societies along with the American Sleep Apnea Association are the ones that sponser the A.W.A.K.E. groups and represent a large part of the education and public awareness for both patient's and medical employees. They are also the ones pushing for better legislation and rules for both the lab and patient. National control would put an end to this type of lobbying and education on your behalf.
United Healthcare and Anthem have started their own sleep programs using the HST model. They are certifying their own docs which they will have complete control over. All of these docs are in Florida. They are predicting 4 weeks from testing to get your results and probably another 2 for treatment. Afterwards all patients in this program will be given an auto-pap device with an open range for anywhere from 1 week to 6 months. Under this program seeing a sleep doc will not be an option. I know many of you will see HST in this statement and go off on a tangent. This is not about the HST as it is here to stay. This is about maintaining a certain level of care in the treatment of sleep disorders. We need more not less attention.
As I said It does not matter what your views are only that they are heard. Now is the time to speak up.
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Permalink Reply by Henning on
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As a member outside the U.S., I can only say that your insurance systems and differentiated tasks may give your major problems
Here in Denmark we came late start with the treatment of sleep apnea, but since then it has expanded rapidly.
Today we have sleep centers with the participation of all disciplines within the relevant medical disciplines.
A new patient will be followed and treated according to carefully established forms, and there are no boundaries between CPAP treatment and possible surgical solutions. The latter, however only after a trial period of CPAP.
I wish that I first was diagnosed today. This would have made everything much easier.
Henning
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Henning I could be wrong but aren't the sleep techs in Denmark Brpt certified. It is an international certification.
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The last 3 years, all sleep techs in Denmark should be internationally certified. So it is relatively new.
Henning
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Hi Rock,
I really don't know. I don't know much about these certifications. All I know is that about 3 years ago they introduced the international certifications in our public system.
I do know that my own tech is trained in the U.S.
Henning
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