[News] ResMed Releases Cloud-based Compliance Management Solution

[ApneaNews]

ResMed Releases Cloud-based Compliance Management Solution

ResMed Inc launched its new patient compliance management solution, EasyCare Online, a tool that aggregates usage and efficacy data from obstructive sleep apnea patients who use CPAP.

The data can be used by sleep lab, home medical equipment, and other health care providers involved in managing obstructive sleep apnea. The new tool employs a secure, cloud-based system consistent with the leading health information privacy and security standards, including those mandated by the latest federal regulations.

EasyCare Online enables users to access all their CPAP patients’ therapy data online, anywhere with an Internet connection, whether the data are gathered wirelessly or by secure digital (SD) data card. With EasyCare Online, health care providers can quickly identify patients struggling with compliance and address therapy issues early, while simplifying the administrative burden associated with their business. Moreover, at-a-glance reports are easily accessed with just a few clicks, saving both staff training and execution time.

“EasyCare Online answers the market demand for an efficient, user-friendly system that offers quick and convenient access to patient data from one centralized location,” stated Luke Maguire, director, health care informatics marketing, ResMed Americas. “EasyCare Online overcomes those challenges and more, combining an intuitive user interface with simple reporting options and fewer clicks overall.”

EasyCare Online also provides the option to grant access to patient data for an unlimited number of health care providers. For example, a medical equipment provider can link patients’ records to their referring primary care physicians and sleep lab partners, so that all care providers can monitor a patient’s progress online.

“Health care, especially sleep health care, is an incredibly dynamic market. Our customers are under pressure to prove positive patient outcomes with CPAP and to continuously document compliance,” said Don Darkin, president, sleep-disordered breathing strategic business unit. “They need a data management tool to help streamline their efforts, simplify administration, and differentiate their business. We have provided the solution with EasyCare Online.”

fair use from:
http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/sleep_repo...-18_04.asp

[PaulaO2]

It all sounds kinda almost nice except for two things. One, now way in heckaroni will I allow my medical information to be in any sort of online 'cloud'.

And two, why the **** do they have to call it "compliance management"? As if the entire thing is getting patients to "comply"? As if we are nothing more than unwilling idiots who don't do as we are told and absolutely must be watched and monitored?

No thank you, Resmed. I comply just fine when asked nicely and treated as an intelligent adult.

[SuperSleeper]

You WILL comply.... we are the Borg... er... I mean ResMed.... resistance is futile... you will be assimilated into the cloud.

ResMed's new cloud-enabled Full Face Mask:

[Cutter]

FREEDOM!

We need a William Wallace Smiley.

[SlightlySleepy]

FREEDOM!
We need a William Wallace Smiley.

Is that a smiley with a kilt?

FWIW, in my crash course in CPAP machines today, I believe I read online that Respironics already has the "Cloud" software already, so perhaps ResMed is just playing catch-up with the borg game. It's on Respironics' sleepapnea website (sorry I cannot post URL) under
Patients >> Products >> Encore Compliance Management >> EncoreAnywhere

One quote from their site that pretty much sums up the plot behind the new trend towards cloud based "compliance management" :

"Management by Exception The easy-to-use, intuitive My Day homepage automatically identifies problem patients and their specific issues. With this information, you can quickly and easily prioritize patient intervention needs."

And no longer will you be afraid of changing the machine all by yourself, the machine can be remotely changed without you even knowing!:
"Modem Versatility Compliance data can be automatically uploaded on a daily basis. Prescription changes also can be automatically communicated back to the patient's device."

[zonk]

As far as ResMed and insurance companies concerned S9 Escape is data capable machine shows compliance data and compliance means the machine used at least 4 hours per night even in the ResScan there is compliance threshold line marked at 4 hours.

[shanzlik]

I'd be more optomistic if it were about having the detailed data available for the Dr. to review so changes could be made if needed, but this sounds like it's focused on proving "compliance" so the DME can get paid for the machines rather than actually improving patient care. (Since many insurances require proof of compliance before paying for the whole cost of the machine). Just because someone has the machine on for four hours doesn't mean they are getting the best treatment.

Our customers are under pressure to prove positive patient outcomes with CPAP and to continuously document compliance,” said Don Darkin.

That's what stood out to me, and when he said customers, he means the DMEs, not the patient. The CPAP manufacturing industry is still largely focused on the DME as the so-called customer, not the patient using the product, when it comes to many of their design decisions (such as compliance monitoring vs full data capability, etc.).

[SuperSleeper]

Our customers are under pressure to prove positive patient outcomes with CPAP and to continuously document compliance,” said Don Darkin.

That's what stood out to me, and when he said customers, he means the DMEs, not the patient. The CPAP manufacturing industry is still largely focused on the DME as the so-called customer, not the patient using the product, when it comes to many of their design decisions (such as compliance monitoring vs full data capability, etc.).

BINGO. And that's the problem. CPAP manufacturers see the DMEs as their "customer" not you and me (the "end-user") as the customer. This is what Apnea Board has been stressing to the CPAP manufacturers for years now, and to a degree, we're making some progress, but we're nowhere near having the manufacturers see us-- the patients-- as the true customer.

When ResMed Vice President Gil Ben-Dov joined the Apnea Board forum a few months ago, we stressed this to him in this thread... I can only hope he took what we said back to the ResMed boardroom.

It's all part of our stupid Medicare and insurance system. Whoever "Pays the bills" directly to the CPAP manufacturers is the "real customer" in their eyes. Since there is no direct-distribution from manufacturer to the patient, the one who makes the purchases from the manufacturer is seen as "their customer" (the DME, in other words). But the thing they don't realize is that it is WE THE PATIENTS who ultimate pay for these machines, either through Medicare taxes, insurance payments or outright purchase from a DME. If it weren't for the PATIENTS, the CPAP companies would be out of business.

It's really a slap in the face to those of us who want to take a more active role in our own therapy. We're treated like cash-cows that "get milked" on a regular basis, having no say or influence upon those who provide these machines to us. I say, all of us "cash-cows" need to start "mooing" more to get the attention of the CPAP manufacturers.