"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Eliminating the Medical Professional/Putting the Patient in Charge of his Health
Here is an exciting article on adjustable eyeglasses for children in China - http://www.smartplanet.com/technology/blog/rethinking-healthcare/ad...
Note that the eyeglasses are adjusted (think titrated) by the patient with no help from a doctor or other medical professional. They are currently being used by 30,000 people around the globe.
Now the glasses are being distributed to children who adjust them with the help of a school teacher in a class setting. Note that, "About 92% of the kids were able to correct their own nearsightedness using the glasses – compared with a nearly 100% rate when the students were given professional eye exams."
Note that the current glasses are early versions and no doubt future versions will be greatly improved.
Oxford physicist Joshua Silver, founder of Adaptive Eyecare, coauthor on the study, and the director of the Centre for Vision in the Developing World said, "the goal is to get the price down to $1 a pair and distribute 1 billion pairs worldwide by 2020."
Free people unrestrained by governments, licensing authorities, and unions are doing wonderful things.
The relevancy to sleep disorders is that a revolution in how sleep medicine is practiced and how the patient becomes involved is possible and could happen quickly.
Views: 74
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gerald Donoghue on
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As I said before, I am for putting the equipment (machines, masks, etc) in a more competitive environment and letting patients set their suggested levels themselves. I also don't have a problem with experienced patients adjusting their settings on ther own.
However, I believe cutting out the medical professionals would be a serious problem. Doctors, sleep techs and RT's evaluate much more than comfortable pressure settings. In my opinion, the average patient would only be treating symptoms without actually examining all of the potential root causes.
I certainly am for patients taking responsibilty for their own treatment, but I feel that comes in the form of being as knowledgable as possible and working closely with the medical community. Let your RT know how you feel, inform them of abberations and what you think may have casued them, ask questions, make suggestions, but listen to what they have to say.
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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Patients should be proactive in their care. Titrations could be a bit tricky. Over titration can lead to an increase apnea severity or even central apnea. Patients could start with more exercise, stopping smoking, and weight loss.
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