Encore Anywhere required?

I just switched doctors, and she put me on an M Series BiPAP Auto which I've only had about a week. Some of you may recall I complained about being on CPAP for 1.5 years with no improvement. New doctor said CPAP was wrong for me because of my history of myasthenia gravis, even though it's in remission, and prescribed a BiPAP. I have had trouble adjusting to it and had rainout for the 1st time ever (the humidifier must work better).

But the real issue, I just got a call from the DME and the doctor wants the modem installed to use Encore Anywhere. I want to keep the Smart Card to use Encore Viewer. I emailed Respironics to find out if I could get a read-only login (forget it!) to Encore Anywhere's web site. Anyone else had this problem? I have put them off by stating that there is no working phone jack in the bedroom, which is true. However, I just found out that I can hook the modem up once a day and bypass that problem if I want to haul the BiPAP up and down the stairs everyday. Has anyone else had the problem that their doctor wanted Encore Anywhere? I complained to the DME rep that I wouldn't be able to look at the data, and she said they have told the vendors over and over that patients want and deserve access to their own data. Without the data, I wouldn't have known that I am taking the mask off every night after about 4 hours.

It sounds like soon the newer machines won't even have a card. Has anyone tried to get data from the modem yet? I know there are a lot of smart people on this site and hope someone will figure this out.

Thanks.

always_tired wrote:It sounds like soon the newer machines won't even have a card. Has anyone tried to get data from the modem yet? I know there are a lot of smart people on this site and hope someone will figure this out.

This is what many of us on the board have been afraid was going to happen. From what I understand once you cut the machine off the data must either go to the card or the modem link you can't have both. There have been several people that have posted reports that had Encore Anywhere as the source of the report. I wondered when I saw it the first time if maybe there was a way for us to get a copy sent to our computer as well as the doctors. I guess you solved that question!! I guess the people that posted the Encore Anywhere reports must have gotten a copy from their Doctor or DME. The prospect of this really sucks. Then maybe my machines will outlast me!!

Jerry

If it was ME......I would just keep things the way they are and just e-mail them a .pdf copy of the reports if or when they "need" them. They shouldn't be able to force you to do that (installing the modem). It's still YOUR therapy.


Den

They would have a lot of fun with me on this. Not only do I not have a working phone jack in my bedroom, I don't have a phone jack in the entire house . Wonder how they would work that out.

Wulfman wrote:If it was ME......I would just keep things the way they are and just e-mail them a .pdf copy of the reports if or when they "need" them. They shouldn't be able to force you to do that (installing the modem). It's still YOUR therapy.
Den

I have to agree with all here. This is exactly what I was afraid would happen with the 'new machines'.

To add to Den's suggestion above and your denial of phone access - I would add that you consider this a violation of "YOUR Privacy".

No one, not even this doc can force you to give up your right to privacy.

Think about it - until now this doc has had no choice but to accept the copies from Encore that YOU can continue to provide. A doctor never, EVER looks at you charts until you are 'IN' their office. So there is NO Reason to have access to Anywhere.

If the doc insist on Anywhere - I would go Elsewhere. This kind of open access to medical records has to stop.

Anywhere will be pushed by the DME's so they can show compliance for billing purposes - that IS the reason for this. It's NOT for the patients. It is to reduce the manpower required to report compliance.

Stick to your guns and don't give in. Please do keep us posted here.

Good Luck

Oh Handgunner - wireless is next I told em the same thing - I don't have a jack. The bedroom is for sleeping

Maybe you can compromise. From reading the EncoreAnywhere stuff on their website, it looks like either your doctor or your DME can read your SmartCard and put the data into the EncoreAnywhere system, and give your card back. I don't know how often they would want you to send the card in for that. I'd download your data before sending them the card.

If you had an extra card, you could still see your data while they had your other card, then switch them out.

If they want daily reports (I agree with the above that I don't buy them looking at your data every day), it wouldn't be practical.

I know I wouldn't let them remove my SmartCard module.

My doctor wants my DME to read my card - but I'm not doing that. I walk to my appointments with printouts from EncoreViewer.

That would be my compromise. To take the card to the DME periodically, probably weekly since other posts have said the card does not hold very much detailed data.

Is it possible for you to e-mail the charts to the doctor? You could do this daily, weekly, whatever is needed. My DME kept my card, so I bought my own. Now I provide the charts as needed(once a year a chart or two keeps the GP happy).

Brenda

always_tired wrote:That would be my compromise. To take the card to the DME periodically, probably weekly since other posts have said the card does not hold very much detailed data.

For the record here, I believe the detailed data is NOT what the doc is looking for. It will hold up to 7 sessions of detailed data and about 1yr of compliance data.

My guess is this doc is tied (financially) to this DME and the push is ON to make sure the DME gets paid. Some, efforts right now, may be nervous twitches until they are sure they can/will get the compliance data to be paid. This is due to recent changes in how compliance will be measured.

It IS all about money.

Wulfman wrote:If it was ME......I would just keep things the way they are and just e-mail them a .pdf copy of the reports if or when they "need" them. They shouldn't be able to force you to do that (installing the modem). It's still YOUR therapy.


Den

I have to use a modem device to send in data from my defib unit every 6 months, I wish there was a way to intercept that data and see what it said. Besides having defective leads on it, I believe it also will not function. (From day 1) (And for my good being I hope it can't) A false triggering of the unit is painful and deadly. I'd like a record of it's data to be used in a court action if needed. Jim

My DME tech told me that vendors (she didn't say which companies) have told her that they are working on machines that can transmit data without a modem connection. What do you want to bet that there will be no way for patients to get the data directly. My last email to Respironics about patients wanting and deserving access to their own medical data has not been answered.

ResMed already has an add-on module called ResTrax that makes the data available via the AT&T 3G wireless network. No wired phone connection required.

It can be swapped with the card slot.

I think I would cover the antenna with aluminum foil if the unit stopped me from getting my data.

Oh, I must live in a dead zone.

What is the big deal with patients having their own data? That they might be smarter than the doctors? That they might notice something the doctors missed?

Many doctors barely look at the summary data. Others do not "believe" in data.

Mostly the data is used to prove compliance to insurance companies or medicare.

Having ones own data allows one to troubleshoot problems on a daily basis and improve their therapy over time. At best a sleep doctor will see a patient twice a year.

Data makes solving problems like mask leaks and changing pressure needs possible.

What is wrong with a patient have his/her own data. Must we be obligated to an MD for information about our own lives?

always_tired wrote:What is the big deal with patients having their own data? That they might be smarter than the doctors? That they might notice something the doctors missed?

That pretty much sums it up right there. It's OUR data......OUR therapy......and OUR health.

Many of us were titrated at the wrong pressures and with the help of our data, have found better (more effective) settings.
One night trying to sleep in a sleep lab (all wired up) does not compare with sleeping every night in our own bed and surroundings.
Over time, our pressure needs may change and by monitoring our data, we can determine our own adjustments.
And, yes, many have noticed things that the doctors did miss.

A couple of hundred dollars for the software and reader is "peanuts" compared to paying for recurring visits to the doctors and additional sleep studies.


Den