"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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CPAP Alert Service - OnStar for CPAPers
Rock's reaction is below for a CPAP Alert Service a la OnStar for cars, but for CPAPers. Who should be behind such a service -- i.e., sleep techs, doctors, etc. -- and would people actually buy it?
"The idea is that a company be started such as the 24-hour [support line]. This program would analyse efficacy data for pts as often as they needed. Then efforts would be made to improve on the therapy."Is there a demand for this type of service? I would really like to know." http://www.sleepguide.com/forum/topics/how-dangerous-are-cpap?comme...
Views: 181
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Banyon on
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This is like putting an expensive bandaid on a large jagged wound.
Every patient needs to be told before day one:
- Your success at improving your health and longevity with CPAP will depend on you becoming educated and taking personal control of the process.
- You will need to attend an educational class before you start and a series of additional classes and support group meetings during the first three months. Additional support group meetings beyond that are regularly available. Time is always allowed for patients to share their experiences with each other after the meetings.
- You will need to read the educational materials we provide and keep them handy for reference.
- You will be given links to internet resources for additional education and internet patient forums/support groups. We highly recommend you read in the forums and consider joining one.
- You will be prescribed a data-capable machine with a display which reports key efficacy data. It is important that you learn how to read and interpret this data. The educational classes and materials will prepare you for this.
- We encourage all of our patients to purchase the optional software for their CPAP machine. The software can help you assure both compliance and a good therapy.
- We will provide the prescription and you can try CPAP on your own without attending the classes or studying the educational material, however, be aware that patients taking this route have a much lower success rate at compliance and health improvement.
The classes and educational meetings and materials can be developed by associations or educational companies independent of the medical practices. Some large medical practices and hospital chains will want to develop and conduct their own. The providers of these services will compete with each other and the most efficient and most effective will get the most business.
The patient, at their discretion, can still have office visits with a professional for review of how they are doing and discussion of individual issues.
So no, let's don't send patients out into the CPAP world like we do today, naive and poorly educated. A "support line" will not address the 75% failure rate.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Swickard on
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I agree with the others, I've been using a CPAP for almost four years, yet to have any real issues, know how to operate the machine and adjust the mask. I cannot see subscribing to such a service especially paying out hard earned money.
Thanks
Steve
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Permalink Reply by Claude on
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I know I'm going to be the 'dumb' one in this conversation, but here goes. I have no idea how to get this type of information off of my machine, if it even gives it, that is.
I know my mask leaks sometimes, because it wakes me up. I try to adjust to fix it, but am not always successful. I went for quite a while feeling really good during the day, and now I'm back to not feeling as good. I know I'm not getting the good sleep that I need to function properly during the day.
I live 250 miles away from the nearest doctor of any kind, let alone a specialist in sleep therapy.
I've been using my CPAP since 2004, and do the best I can. I am faithful and use it EVERY night, because I almost go into panic mode if I don't.
The machine is an "autoset Spirit".
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
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Don't feel dumb.. I am your " dumber" counterpart. I have been on my CPAP for a little over 3 yrs. It is a plain jane..CPAP..does nothing but stay at what it is set at.. has NO Data read out anywhere .. is NOT data card or smart card capable..
I also notice if I have leaks but just adjusting my head position usually stops them. I am losing my health insurance
so IF I manage to get something else lined up .. THE FIRST thing on my agenda is to request another sleep study be
done. I want a new machine..that actually tells me something... I want a doctor who will monitor and help me with my
SA. I don't have a SA doctor.. I have not SEEN or talked to ANYONE since taking the test in my local hospital..and I have just slept with my CPAP the way it is for over 3 yrs. Company girls come out and check
my oxygen... check settings on my CPAP..and I sign my name and they leave. I get limited replacement
parts but only when they allow it ( or my insurance via them).
Right now all that is a pipe dream..out of my reach..until changes go into effect. Until then I have a CPAP that is
keeping me going at night w/ an oxygen feed of 2.0. As I said before on another discussion here.. I asked the owner
of the company that supplies my CPAP and other supplies to go with it.. " WHY do I have a machine that is not equipped with a data card or smart card?...and the reply was.. " oh.. you don't need that..that is just something WE would use
to make sure you are actually using your machine." I cringed...and hung up.
I don't think the discussion topic is a necessary thing..and can't imagine how something like that would actually work.
" Dumber" but not stupid.
Claude said:I know I'm going to be the 'dumb' one in this conversation, but here goes. I have no idea how to get this type of information off of my machine, if it even gives it, that is.
I know my mask leaks sometimes, because it wakes me up. I try to adjust to fix it, but am not always successful. I went for quite a while feeling really good during the day, and now I'm back to not feeling as good. I know I'm not getting the good sleep that I need to function properly during the day.
I live 250 miles away from the nearest doctor of any kind, let alone a specialist in sleep therapy.
I've been using my CPAP since 2004, and do the best I can. I am faithful and use it EVERY night, because I almost go into panic mode if I don't.
The machine is an "autoset Spirit".
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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they should ban CPAP and make APAP compulsory this would make APAP a tad cheaper to purchase
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I KNOW there must be a ton of discussions around here about this.. so sorry.. but just WHAT is the difference between
the CPAP, BIPAP and APAP? I have seen you comment about how wonderful the APAP is.. just another dumb question here..
" feeling dumber by the minute"
99 said:they should ban CPAP and make APAP compulsory this would make APAP a tad cheaper to purchase
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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope www.hope2Sleep.co.uk on
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I know exactly what you mean JNK, but I think there would be room for this type of service too, as there are many very elderly people on PAP who neither have a clue of all the jargon, or want to have a clue, as to what it's all about. All they want to do is feel well. Also, I have many very poorly customers here (with other linked conditions to OSA) in the UK who have no energy to think about checking their progress. Then there are the rich, who would gladly pay for this service. The list goes on....... I personally, like others on SG, want to take charge of our own treatment, but this isn't the case for everyone.
j n k said:Warning, controversial opinion to follow . . .
In my opinion, that would be like a service to call the culinary institute if I burnt my toast one morning.
Any patient smart enough to strap his or her own mask on every night is also smart enough to read leak and efficacy data from the screen of a machine every morning.
Therefore:
The answer is to make sure every patient has access to that data every morning so that the patient can pick up the phone and call someone, if the patient is unable to solve the problem himself/herself.
Any patient who can't be trusted to do that should not be trusted with a bottle of aspirin either, since he or she might lose count of how many he or she has taken.
(Note: My opinions are often offered to stimulate discussion and polite debate. Don't take me any more seriously than I take myself.)
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CPAP=CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIR PRESSURE
APAP=AUTO POSITIVE AIR PRESSURE
CPAP is set to one pressure while APAP follows your condition and adjust to the new pressure as well as being able to self monitor your condition and adjust to eliminate problems
Sheila Knowles said:I KNOW there must be a ton of discussions around here about this.. so sorry.. but just WHAT is the difference between
the CPAP, BIPAP and APAP? I have seen you comment about how wonderful the APAP is.. just another dumb question here..
" feeling dumber by the minute"
99 said:they should ban CPAP and make APAP compulsory this would make APAP a tad cheaper to purchase
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Permalink Reply by S Miller on
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Claude and Sheila..Thank you for asking those questions. I had the very same questions. I'm on BiPAP 25/23 with 2 liters of O2 added. I have no idea how to read my machine.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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I agree jnk. The idea of everyone monitoring there own therapy is a great one. In the real world not everyone is like you, banyon, or Rooster. Not everyone wants to control their therapy. The ones that do most likely are already doing so.
j n k said:Warning, controversial opinion to follow . . .
In my opinion, that would be like a service to call the culinary institute if I burnt my toast one morning.
Any patient smart enough to strap his or her own mask on every night is also smart enough to read leak and efficacy data from the screen of a machine every morning.
Therefore:
The answer is to make sure every patient has access to that data every morning so that the patient can pick up the phone and call someone, if the patient is unable to solve the problem himself/herself.
Any patient who can't be trusted to do that should not be trusted with a bottle of aspirin either, since he or she might lose count of how many he or she has taken.
(Note: My opinions are often offered to stimulate discussion and polite debate. Don't take me any more seriously than I take myself.)
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Sounds like good advice. But please explain "A "support line" will not address the 75% failure rate". Not the support line issuse but the failure rate.
Is 75% a new national stat ?Or just a cpap failure rate in your area?
Thanks again.
Our company cpap protocol closely mimics what you have outlined and has resulted in very good cpap compliance rate + 90% for our patients and therefore is a financial benefit to our company to educate patient's initially and going forward. Supply replacement program also gives providers another oppurtunity to address problems at the 6 month point (+90% is a conservative estimate).
Banyon said:This is like putting an expensive bandaid on a large jagged wound.
Every patient needs to be told before day one:
- Your success at improving your health and longevity with CPAP will depend on you becoming educated and taking personal control of the process.
- You will need to attend an educational class before you start and a series of additional classes and support group meetings during the first three months. Additional support group meetings beyond that are regularly available. Time is always allowed for patients to share their experiences with each other after the meetings.
- You will need to read the educational materials we provide and keep them handy for reference.
- You will be given links to internet resources for additional education and internet patient forums/support groups. We highly recommend you read in the forums and consider joining one.
- You will be prescribed a data-capable machine with a display which reports key efficacy data. It is important that you learn how to read and interpret this data. The educational classes and materials will prepare you for this.
- We encourage all of our patients to purchase the optional software for their CPAP machine. The software can help you assure both compliance and a good therapy.
- We will provide the prescription and you can try CPAP on your own without attending the classes or studying the educational material, however, be aware that patients taking this route have a much lower success rate at compliance and health improvement.
The classes and educational meetings and materials can be developed by associations or educational companies independent of the medical practices. Some large medical practices and hospital chains will want to develop and conduct their own. The providers of these services will compete with each other and the most efficient and most effective will get the most business.
The patient, at their discretion, can still have office visits with a professional for review of how they are doing and discussion of individual issues.
So no, let's don't send patients out into the CPAP world like we do today, naive and poorly educated. A "support line" will not address the 75% failure rate.
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@Donald R. Byrd, See http://doctorstevenpark.com/index.php?s=compliance
Donald R. Byrd said, "Our company cpap protocol closely mimics what you have outlined"
Yes Donald, educating people to be able to solve task-specific problems and perform the task is nothing new and nothing mysterious (despite what some techs here seem to think). Businesses are doing it every day or hiring outside trainers to do it every day. A motivated employee or, in this case, patient is a key part of the education and performance.
Glad to hear your company is big on education.
Let me know what you think of Dr. Parks' comments on compliance rate.
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