Sharing Sleep Data with Doctor

[upsman]

When I see my doctor next, it will have been 4 months of therapy on my new machine. He is my PCP who happens to specialize in sleep issues and prescribed this machine and treatment parameters. He is also treating me for my COPD issues.

My question is do sleep doctors generally use some type of proprietary software to access and use the data contained on the SD card, or would they possibly be using SleepyHead or some other software? Would it be appropriate for me to just hand him my SD card let him extract the info, or would it be better to print some sort of summary graph to show him?

I would like to get his take on the progress of my therapy.

Thanks.

[SarcasticDave94]

I've had 2 different pulmonary facilities view CPAP info and I have found it depends on what the medical person, Dr. or Physician's Assistant, etc. asks for. Hard copies via SleepyHead work only if the doctor will look at them. As for the SD card, I personally make sure to slide it into the locked position then let them copy off the info. Bottom line, the answer depends on what the doc or tech wants and is used to reviewing.

Dave 

[upsman]

I see.
Thanks, Dave.

[stanleydean]

On my last visit to my sleep doctor he asked if I had a printout to leave with him. I just happened to have printed out some SleepyHead data to give him. Scroll back several visits, on my first visit when I had a brick that would only let me access limited data, I had printed out what I could and he was only mildly interested. At that time I was looking for and got a Rx for a APAP machine. At some point I also gave him a copy of the Apnea Board info sheet that is available on the forum. After my new machine I gave him SleepyHead data and he now expects it. I don't think he has many patients that are proactive with their treatment, recently he said "I think you must be an engineer" and I acknowledged that to be the case. I don't know if he has taken a look at the forum and at SleepyHead but it would not surprise me. Next time I may offer the SD card to see his response.

I will try and locate the info sheet and pass it on to you, it is good to use when introducing others to the forum.

Stan

[upsman]

Thanks for that info, Stan.

[Walla Walla]

Here's the link to the flyer if that's what you mean by info sheet. http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...ight=flyer

[SarcasticDave94]

I see.
Thanks, Dave.

Welcome. I would go prepped with hard copy the first time. If he/she isn't interested, don't bother doing so again. At least that way you have it if they ask. Bring the SD card too.

Dave

[jaswilliams]

I downloaded rescan and printed out summary data with some zoomed sections on information I wanted to discuss. I only met the sleep nurse but she kept the charts and passed the info to specialist

[SaldusMiegas]

hi upsman,

I don't know what tools they use. I suspect it is not sleepyhead because no big pharma company with a proprietary product would provide free open source sleepyhead to a medical practice.  

Considering profit and liability motivations I bet they prefer to provide software they know and control versus something maintained by people who won't be liable for any advice your doc gives you based upon what the software tells him. 

More likely the company that provides their heavyweight diagnostic equipment suite probably provides a comprehensive case management software to keep lab results and followup data in a case file.  There are several sleep lab techs in the forum who will know more about what medical practices might use.

My experience is with a sleep doc and my PCP.  Since your PCP specializes in sleep therapy he might be more sophisticated with tools more like the sleep docs have.  

* In my case the sleep doc was most interested in the SD card and was not too much interested in what I printed out and brought with me. After two visits of me showing him my printed data and him yawning, I quit going to the sleep doc because I didn't get any value from those appointments.  

* My PCP doc didn't have any tools to read the SD card, but he really seemed to appreciate my bringing him a printout. The first time we talked through the data, and subsequently he was happy to receive the printouts and took a quick look but our discussion was simply how I thought it was going and did I have any concerns.  Granted most PCP visits were not about sleep therapy.  

I'm kinda with SarcasticDave94 on this ... bring the SD card and a printout so you are prepared, and then follow the doc's lead on what he finds helpful for subsequent visits. Don't hesitate to ask questions about the data on your printout. And be prepared to explain using the data why you have made any adjustments to the original prescription CPAP settings if you have made any changes. This will demonstrate the rationale behind any adjustments, show him you are paying attention and learning all you can, give him a chance to weigh in and advise you differently, and provide a basis of your understanding going forward. 

You might also call the office ahead of your appointment and ask what they would like you to bring to the first visit. 

Saldus Miegas

[upsman]

Saldus.

Sounds like a good plan of attack.
I suspect my PCP is on top of the latest and greatest with regards to sleep therapy. I really like him a lot. Very thorough and informative on every visit. When my Medicare Advantage plan decided to drop him as of this year's open enrollment, I immediately looked long and hard for a plan he was on to continue the rapport we have already.

I think I'll bring the SD card with me. I'm sure they have a reader, and I'm willing to bet he has software in place to gather the info from the card. I'll also print out some of the charts I have questions about. Cover all the bases.

Thanks for you input.

Paul