I am particularly interested in getting people's feelings about brick and mortal home care companies.

I will do a separate poll for satisfaction for Internet-based companies in the near future.

I am making a presentation to a group of DMEs in September.

Thank you  



Last edited by sleepapnea_ed on Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Executive Director
American Sleep Apnea Association
6856 Eastern Avenue, NW Ste. 203
Washington, DC 20012
202-293-3650

Hey Ed- I HATE my DME!!!!!!!!!  I had a problem with my mask a few months ago and the RT(had to call her purchaser;wait for him to call back (to confirm that F/P actually had design issues) I actually contacted F/P myself and got a replacement piece 5 days before my worthless DME. Did I mention that I HATE my DME. More bad news;theres a vicious rumor that Cigna has now contracted solely with Apria and anything I've ever heard about them has all been negative.


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EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A TOUCH OF GREY
-Grateful Dead


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

Ed,

You might also ask what people don't like about their DMEs.
If you go strictly by numbers, your poll results might not tell the whole story.
Many people may do just fine with their doctor, DME, and equipment and not see a need to seek out a forum such as this.
We come here to gripe because, well, we have something to gripe about, and many times it's our DMEs.  
Plus, some of us may have experienced more than one DME.  Not so likely, but possible.  And the first one may suck and the second be great.
Plus, some of us may be at the mercy of our insurance, must use a particular DME, like it or not.  

I didn't know how to vote, because my situation was odd.  My insurance required that I use one specific DME which was out of town and shipped the equipment to me, although there was a local rep who could come to my home if I needed it.  I couldn't go to a bricks and mortar one, but it wasn't an online one either.  Yes, I was confused.
 

Linda

Linda,

I am hoping that if people feel move to amplify their feelings, good or bad, about their DME they will let me know.

This is definitely not a scientific poll... it is more to get an idea.

But thank you, as always for your thoughtful input.

You definitely keep me straight.

Ed

sleepapnea_ed wrote:

.... You definitely keep me straight.

Ed

Straight?  Well, you better keep ME straight!    

Well....

I am fairly satisfied with my DME per se, but what made me absolutely BONKERS was the inept communication between my DME, my doctors, and my insurance! Who was supposed to fax this or send that or write the prescription and send to whom by what time and oops I sent the wrong one to the wrong place but the doctor didn't include the humidifier in the prescription no not the sleep doctor the primary doctor has to write that but the diagnosis has to come from the sleep doc and the insurance has to send the authorization again to where was that by what time oh sorry about that we'll leave a message for him...

Stuff like that.

~Oggie


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I always tell my kids....
Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Six months ago, the receptionist at my Doc's told me that Apria would be calling me in two weeks to set up an initial CPAP appointment.  -- They called in 2 days, and gave me an appointment the next week.

Three months ago, I needed a replacement hose, as mine was contaminated with broken glass (that's a story in itself).  I offered to pay the full cost as it was my fault.  In a matter of a few hours, the DME had insurance approval, and I got my new hose the same day at no cost to me.

Last week, I went in to have the PAP pressure changed, no appt needed.  The specialist was ready for me before I signed in, and had the unit ready before I could get a good start on a crossword puzzle.

I've called a few times with questions, and always got someone to answer right away, or call back that day.

I feel very fortunate, as many here have posted complaints about their DMEs.

Regards all - - Woof

Woof-I am very happy to hear something good about Apria. I heard that Cigna now has contracted them so don't know if I will have to switch over. But it makes me feel a little better to hear something good about the company


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EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A TOUCH OF GREY
-Grateful Dead


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

I was very happy with Sleep Central, but Cigna switched me to Apria without notification.  When I needed something, I had to go through the whole rigamarole of getting a new prescription, etc. from my doc, to Apria, a real pain.

I was on travel and left the "short hose with elbow and swivel" for my Swift Mirage in a hotel room.  My fault.  When I got home Friday, about 4 p.m., and unpacked, I discovered the missing part.  I called Sleep Central to be informed that I had been changed to Apria, and SC even gave me the 800 number for Apria.  Guess what, got a recording that Apria was closed for the weekend.  Called them again Monday a.m., had to get the Rx, etc., placed the order, and was told it would ship in 2 to 4 days with a 2 day deliver time, EXCLUSIVE OF DATE OF ORDER.  Best case, delivery the following Monday, worst--Wednesday--I calculated--boy was I wrong.  But I was on travel again that week.  The Apria person said that they did not offer expedited handling and shipping.

I googled cpap, and cpap.com was first up.  Called their 800 number, told the man my problem, and cpap.com shipped the $11.25 part, FedEx next day, and I had it before lunch the next day, but I paid almost $19.00 out of my pocket.

I came home Thursday of the week following my placing the order, and the Apria order had been delivered that day--10 days after the order--and the elbow was missing from the hose.

Color me very unhappy with Apria.


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Check your smoke detectors and make sure the batteries are fresh.

I voted very happy. I deal with a small home care that is affiliated with the hospital where I had my sleep studies done. They don't have a ton of different equipment in stock, but they can get anything I want pretty quickly. The staff at this home care bend over backwards to help. When I got my cpap in December, the Rt handling my case spent 3 hours going over everything with me. He would not let me out the door until he was absolutely sure I knew what I needed to know about my equipment. These people have worked over the phone with me to make adjustments to my pressure when needed and always answer my questions. They were quite happy to learn that I have taken the time to educate myself about OSA.

Brian

Just as Brian's situation, my DME provider is linked to the sleep lab's hospital.

I like my DME Provider and the Respiratory Therapists could not be nicer.  They are very accommodating and knowledgable.  My main problem is the LONG length of time I wait to get equipment.

I have the Cadillac of insurance, so I would doubt that would be the problem.

I waited 5 weeks for my CPAP and am now waiting for a nasal interface.  It is going on 6 weeks now.    I am not sure if this is a standard waiting period for them, because this is my first CPAP.  I know that if I had ordered from an online company it probably would have come within a week.


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My machine: ResMed Compact S8 with Humidaire 3i

My mask/interface: ComfortLite 2

A full night's sleep: Priceless!

I"m still too emotional to tell my story of my dealings with Apria Healthcare.  Just believe that it was a freaking nightmare. I composed  my official complaint to Apria today.  Sent a copy to my local Apria provider, one to their headquaters office and one to my Health Care provider.  I don't really expect them to do anything. But I had to write it for me.  Everyone that I dealt with there were insensitive, rude and unprofessional.  Just the thought of having to contact them in the future for any reason is very disturbing. If any of you have a choice, don't pick Apria.  

Quin

From the time I finished my first sleep study till I got a cpap was less than 48 hours.  After my second sleep study, it was decided I needed a Bipap.  I was at their offices the same day and got my new set up.  I am in the suburbs of Seattle, and Northwest Medical is my DME, and they were just peachy!!  Reading through the posts and seeing how long some others have to wait is just wrong, getting the diagnosis is great, but having to wait weeks and sometimes months while your health just gets worse to get your equipment is just plain  ridiculous.


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cyndi

No longer asleep at the wheel!!

Resperonics Bi-pap 29/21
ResMed FF Mask
Hosehead since 04/06

I was very happy with my DME.They set me up with a cpap machine the same day my sleep test was done. Which was a good thing because my insurance company took 5 weeks to get back to me on my coverage.The specialist also had sleep apnea and gave me alot of information that only someone with sleep apnea would know.She was to say the least a very high energy person and that alone gave me alot of hope.My insurance company did cover everything except replacement filters so that was excellent as well

I've been relatively happy with my DME... After my titration study, they were at the sleep lab giving me a machine. When I switched masks, I called on Saturday and was over at the DME on Monday getting the mask. When I saw my Sleep Doc about bloating due to CPAP, they faxed the prescription to lower the pressure. I got the call just a few days later and the the appointment about one week after my visit to the Doc. I can't complain at all when it comes to the DME... They were right on the money!  


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Best Regards,
Sleepy No More

"Please don't wake me... no, don't shake me... leave me where I am... I'm Only Sleeping"
-"I'm Only Sleeping"
The Beatles