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Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
#1
Ohmy 
Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
The Doc that ordered my sleep study is a Pulmonologist. I do not think he has any CERTs in sleep. I will go back to see him in 3 months. I ask he needed me to bring my SD card. and got a blan k stare and and "no not necessary". I do not know if he has access to the uploaded data or not. Ask DME specialist and he said RESMED does. Great! Does the doctor? Anyone have experience with a Pulmonologist office.

The DME dispenser of the device seems less concerned about me than selling a product. My initial fitting was at the DME dispenser office. Latter found out that the "specialist" was on vacation and the front office person did the fitting. Put mask on and ... "How does that Feel?". She did explain the machine menu and functions somewhat.

I complained about the leak with the F10 FFM I initially experenced and the Specialist fitted a Mariage liberty - again in their office. I can buy it for ~ #210.00 their price fitted in their office was over $1800.00 (Medicare). What should they do for that price? I wanted a Maria View FFM to try but "no can do" he said Medicare only allowed Resmed and one change if first 30 days. Seems like a rip-off and the Liberty was not suitable. Now stuck with F10 or keep trying to use the Liberty - sore nose and all.

There are centers in Dallas that are just sleep specialists. Would I be better to go to a Center for the OSA treatment than the Pulmonologist? Don't know if I can change now?
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. --Confucius
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#2
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
My sleep doc is actually certified in Internal Medicine. That's the same certification as my GP.
I would think a Pulmonologist would be more qualified than my IM doc.

My sleep doc has never, in 6 years, asked for data from my machine.

Your experience with the DME is "typical." They would have the janitor fit you for a mask if no one else was available.
"Medicare only allows ResMed" -- an outright lie.

At this point, it's not the doctor that's an issue; so switching to a Dallas Sleep center is probably not the best course.

Get copies of your sleep study and your Rx. Then shop around. DMEs have gotten so bad that I fired mine.
You may have to pay out of pocket to get a mask that works for you; but, it's worth it.
You can see that there's a huge markup in price. As long as you have an Rx in hand, you hold the cards.
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#3
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
Sleep Medicine certification is a medical sub-specialty. So, medical docs (vs surgeons) of any main specialty may take on sleep medicine as a sub-specialty. A group of pulmonologists staffs the hospital-based sleep center near me. Some of the pulmonologists in this group have the sleep medicine sub-specialty, and some others don't. I have always chosen to use one of them who has the sleep medicine certification. To me, it shows a particular interest in and perhaps a little extra expertise in sleep medicine, but I feel all the pulmonologists are pretty good with apnea.
My sleep doc wants to see data, and I have supplied it to him on my annual visits. However, if he is dealing with a pt. who knows nothing about data or has no access to it (as in using a "brick"), my sleep doc would naturally not be requesting the pt's sleep data.

David
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#4
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
P.S. I printout a summary data report using ResScan and give it to my sleep doc. I know he is familiar with this software and can easily read it, but he's unfamiliar with Sleepyhead. Earlier in my therapy, I would also printout a few individual nights' data and give him those printouts along with a summary printout.
However, as I have been told recently by my sleep doc, medicare no longer requires documentation of therapy, only the pt's report that he/she is continuing to use the machine and feels it is beneficial, or some such. So, now it seems the doc accepts my printout to be polite. Others may be able to fine-tune this change, but this has been my experience during my last couple annual doc visits.

David
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#5
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
Oh, another thought comes to mind. The DME I use has a small staff of respiratory therapists. Whenever I have dealt with the DME it has been with one of their RTs, and they have never attempted to push me to a particular brand or anything that smacked of sales as their goal. As a result, I can ask them any therapy or equipment question and know their response won't be a sales pitch. This may be an unusual DME, because it is at least described as a hospital-affiliated, non-profit organization.

David
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#6
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
My sleep study was in a sleep center that is run by a neurologist who is certified in sleep. He has a nurse practitioner working with him, and several techs who do the actual study monitoring.

When I went for my one month follow up I saw the NP, and showed her some of my daily reports from Sleepyhead. She was astounded, said they don't get anywhere near that kind of data although they had me bring in my memory card to plug into software. I don't know what software they use but she was glad to learn about Sleepyhead. I also told her about this forum and how helpful it is, hoping she will refer clients here.

The folks on this forum have a vested interest in understanding and utilizing the treatment effectively by utilizing expertly crafted software. Many providers are dedicated to helping people like us, however without data, when they are lazily relying on patient's report that "I am better", I call that malpractice, especially when data is know to be available. Evidence is required in modern healthcare, to substantiate safe and effective treatment IMHO.
Inspired
Bigwink
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#7
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
(03-04-2016, 12:32 AM)Inspired Wrote: My sleep study was in a sleep center that is run by a neurologist who is certified in sleep. He has a nurse practitioner working with him, and several techs who do the actual study monitoring.

When I went for my one month follow up I saw the NP, and showed her some of my daily reports from Sleepyhead. She was astounded, said they don't get anywhere near that kind of data although they had me bring in my memory card to plug into software. I don't know what software they use but she was glad to learn about Sleepyhead. I also told her about this forum and how helpful it is, hoping she will refer clients here.

The folks on this forum have a vested interest in understanding and utilizing the treatment effectively by utilizing expertly crafted software. Many providers are dedicated to helping people like us, however without data, when they are lazily relying on patient's report that "I am better", I call that malpractice, especially when data is know to be available. Evidence is required in modern healthcare, to substantiate safe and effective treatment IMHO.

I agree fully. The Doc scheduled a three month "followup". Not what I expected. If indeed the Doc does no do more than "How do you feel ..." and does not have any data available, I intend to pursue looking to one of several Sleep centers. If the center will look at at least minimum data then that would be initally acceptable. I am hoping to get forum member experiences with Centers here in Dallas.

Thanks David. I might need to find another DME.
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. --Confucius
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#8
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
Ed1101,
If you are on Medicare, keep that 3 month follow up appt. Medicare requires a face to face with your doctor before the first 90 days is up. It's part of the compliance requirements.

I know exactly what you mean though. My Sleep doctor/Pulmonologist has never asked for an SD card or any other report for that matter, he was just happy to hear me say my AHI was under <5, and that I felt good.

My DME is mediocre. They have tried to pull some crap with me, but the others in my area are even worse. I am past the 13 month Medicare rental period and now own my APAP. I order a lot online, less sress.

Oh, and my DME, nor my doctor has helped at all with Cpap use. It's the folk on this forum that give great advice and will put you on the right path.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

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#9
RE: Your Experience with a Sleep Center?
My experience with my sleep doctor was excellent and remains so. My wife had been telling me for more years than I care to remember - at least 20 - that she thought I had sleep apnea and should be tested for it. Every now and then she'd give me an article she had found about it. Finally I told my primary care physician that I'd like to be tested for it and he wrote me a referral. The sleep study - with a ton of wires on my head, chest, and legs was a royal pain and it was difficult to get to sleep, but they told me I did sleep. The sleep doctor went over my results with me and recommended the use of a CPAP machine. A week or so later the nurse from their provider arrived with the machine, fitted the mask for me, and told me how to use it. (As an aside, she told me that one of her patients is a physician who told her that he thought sleep apnea is the most undiagnosed disease in the US, which I found very interesting.) I saw my sleep doctor's assistant at both 30 and 60 days, who compared the results of my original sleep study with whatever the SD card printouts told him, and it was evident to both of us that marked progress was being made. Barring any problems or concerns, I don't have to return to see them for about 8 or 9 more months. So I couldn't be more satisified with the care I have received.
My sleep doctor is an MD, who is Board Certified in both Family Medicine and Sleep Medicine for both adults and children. His staff are registered sleep technicians, nurse practitioners, and respiratory therapists.
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