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What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Helena - 08-14-2021
My father's CPAP is over five years old. (It is on the list of the Philips Recall, a System One.)
He is having a virtual appt. with the pulmonologist on Tuesday. We will ask for a prescription for a new machine. The doctor knows that.
What do we need to ask the doctor to make sure my father gets a machine that is suitable for him?
I have been reading posts here of serious problems with DMEs and used machines, getting a machine that is not right for the person, etc. (The section in the Wiki on "dealing with DMEs" is alarming.) I think this happened to us some years ago, and then we had to get a new machine in a year.
I looked for a recent thread on this subject, but could not find one.
Thanks very much.
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Gideon - 08-14-2021
Our go-to CPAP class machine is the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet or AutoSet for Her. A slight preference for the "for Her" simply because it has an Extra Algorithm. Take whichever is available.
The new AS11 "AutoSet" likely will be there in the future.
That said, we don't know. We don't know what other medical conditions your father has and we don't know the nature of his Apnea. These can radically change what is appropriate for him.
Does he need a BiLevel, or a more advanced machine.
Which BiLevel? Each is targeted for different medical conditions.
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Gideon - 08-14-2021
How to handle a DME. You are shopping at a store but you are shopping for a specific product, if they cannot deliver the product go elsewhere. When they offer a product inspect it. It should be new. Check the total run hours, usually in the about screen in the clinical menu. It sounds like some Dames are selling demo machines because inventory is low but representing them as New, they are after all, new to you. Machine life is important to you as that is, as you noted, a factor in the replacement metrics. Check the hours!!!
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Homerec130 - 08-14-2021
I feel I am lucky. When I was getting ready to get my replacement machine after 6 years (we felt we could wait the extra year as that is when I switched over toe Medicare) he asked me which machine I wanted. At the time I had a PR System 1 and had been happy with it. After my sleep study, we talked about options and he gave me several and let me choose. I picked the ResMed and he wrote the script as dispense as written. He also wrote it so we can use any full face mask that is compatible with my machine. That was over 2 years ago and we have been very happy.
My wife asked her former sleep doctor about machines and was told the doc only supported PR machines - ie Dreamstations and when you went to her office, she displays all over the place pushing ozone based sanitizers. We fired her and changed docs and the doctor ordered a new sleep study as the old doc never sent any of the prior records over as they were conveniently lost. Due to my wife's complex apneas (she suffers from chronic pain) her doc chose the ResMed Air series and she has had good luck with that series.
In a nutshell, work with your doc and let him know what machine you would like. Have your argument laid out in advance with the reasons and go from there.
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Helena - 08-14-2021
Thanks very much for your kind reply.
If you don't mind another question, what reasons should I give the doctor for requesting the ResMed Airsense?
Thanks.
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Gideon - 08-14-2021
Now, because of the recall, this is a very simple request. Philips is under Recall, and was the largest supplier in the US. ResMed was #2. "I don't trust Philips and would like you to write the Rx For ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet or AutoSet for Her, DAW, with heated hose and Mask of patients choice.
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Helena - 08-15-2021
Gideon, thank you very much for your help.
Could you please tell me what DAW is? (The search function requires four characters.)
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - pholynyk - 08-15-2021
DAW == Dispense As Written
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Sleeprider - 08-15-2021
DAW: Dispense as Written
RE: What to ask doctor about prescription for replacement machine, and then? - Helena - 08-15-2021
PHolynyk and SleepRider, thanks very much.