RE: Laugh for the day, RESMED FBI STRUCK
Speaking as an RT that works for a DME, I could care less if my patients are adjusting their own pressure. I know many that do. I advise them they should at least discuss what they are doing or planning on doing with their doctor, pa, npc, rt, whoever, as there could be potential problems associated with what they are changing.
As far as being "illegal" to adjust your own settings, that's silly. But I do understand the concern on the part of the DME. Let's say, for the sake of argument, you incorrectly adjust your own pressures and something happens. You die, your family decides to sue. The CPAP is found to be on a totally different setting that what is charted by the DME. The doctor has a get out of jail free card by saying "I sent the DME an order for original pressures" and the doctor is safe. The DME has documentation that says what the machine was set on originally. The lawyer says that the DME must have put the settings in wrong and therefore is at fault (easy to disprove that but still a hassle involved in getting sued and having to pay lawyers).
If a patient ever tells me they are making their own changes I document that so I'm covered. I would also advise holding off on making changes in the beginning of your therapy. Many of the posters here have years of experience with PAP, but a lot of information can be misunderstood, by either the new poster not knowing exactly how to describe the problem/situation they are experiencing or the well meaning experienced PAP user that gives what turns out to be bad advice.
As far as being "illegal" to adjust your own settings, that's silly. But I do understand the concern on the part of the DME. Let's say, for the sake of argument, you incorrectly adjust your own pressures and something happens. You die, your family decides to sue. The CPAP is found to be on a totally different setting that what is charted by the DME. The doctor has a get out of jail free card by saying "I sent the DME an order for original pressures" and the doctor is safe. The DME has documentation that says what the machine was set on originally. The lawyer says that the DME must have put the settings in wrong and therefore is at fault (easy to disprove that but still a hassle involved in getting sued and having to pay lawyers).
If a patient ever tells me they are making their own changes I document that so I'm covered. I would also advise holding off on making changes in the beginning of your therapy. Many of the posters here have years of experience with PAP, but a lot of information can be misunderstood, by either the new poster not knowing exactly how to describe the problem/situation they are experiencing or the well meaning experienced PAP user that gives what turns out to be bad advice.
