A report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that nearly 17 percent of all fatal crashes involve a drowsy driver, 4,400 just last year in the US¹.  Their study found that driving while drowsy may be as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol.  They discovered that if you are awake for 20 hours without sleep your judgment and response time is delayed just as much as a person with a .08 blood alcohol level².  AAA reported that 41% of drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel, with 1 in 10 saying they had in the past year³.

This would hold true with people with untreated sleep apnea.  Even if you do sleep on a regular schedule but are not getting the restorative sleep you need and sleep apnea disrupts you may fall into this category.  In people with untreated sleep apnea are 7 times more likely to be involved in a drowsy driving crash².  Some signs that you may be too sleepy to drive include:

• Yawning or rubbing your eye repeatedly
• Daydreaming and wandering thoughts
• Feeling restless, irritable or aggressive
• Turning up the radio or rolling down the radio
• Trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open, or your head up
• Slower reaction time, or poor judgment

If you notice you have any of the above pull over and get some rest.  Even a 15-20 minute nap can help you become more aware and be a safe driver on the way home.

If this sounds like you, speak to your physician about sleep apnea.  Approximately 20 million Americans are thought to still be undiagnosed.

1. http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/drowsy_driving1/Drowsy.html
2. http://drowsydriving.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DDPW-Drowsy-Driving-Facts.pdf
3. http://abcnews.go.com/WN/driving-sleepy-common-deadly-thought-aaa-research-finds/story?id=12088552

My wife and I just took the kids to Disneyland! I keep telling people it was for my girls, but actually I had a blast. We had a great time. For those of you who love Disney that should be no surprise that we had fun. If you don’t have fun at Disney something must be wrong with you.

Why is Disney so fun? There are lots of reasons. One of mine is that they have “heart”. They strike a chord with our emotions. They tell a story. They allow us to act like kids. They make us feel alive.

Walt Disney created Disneyland because he felt like the carnivals of the day were seedy cesspools with creepy ride operators. He wanted to create a clean, family-friendly place, where the attractions tell a story.

Disney employees are called “cast members”, because everyone is a performer. Everything they say & do is done as if they are putting on a show.

We put on a show at SOS too. Many of our competitors consider themselves “equipment people”, our employees are “behavior change specialists.” CPAP and O2 set-ups should be an inspiring event for each new patients to improve their health by compliant use of their prescribed medical equipment. At the end of each set-up, patients must to feel inspired and ready to improve their sleep, their health, and their lives by using their new CPAP and/or O2 every night.

Treating new patients and setting them up on their equipment isn’t the only time we “perform” at SOS…regular follow visits/phone calls, responding to requests, training sessions / in-services, deliveries are all opportunities for us to shine.  We are always including ways to put a little Disney Magic into our daily activities here at SOS!

For commercial motor vehicle drivers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), effective treatment lowers health care costs and disability rates, reports a study in the May Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Treating OSA in truck drivers has economic as well as health and safety benefits, according to the new study, led by Dr Benjamin Hoffman, chief medical officer of Waste Management Inc.

The researchers used insurance claims records to evaluate the effects of OSA treatment in commercial motor vehicle drivers. Costs were compared for 156 drivers who received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or other treatments for OSA and 92 drivers who were diagnosed with OSA but were not treated.

For treated drivers, health plan costs decreased by an average of $2,700 in the first year and another $3,100 in the second year, compared to no change for untreated drivers. The treated drivers also missed fewer work days (average 4.4 days in the first year) and had lower short-term disability costs ($528 over 2 years).

On average, treatment for OSA led to “over $6,000 in total health plan and disability cost savings per treated driver,” the researchers write. Total costs decreased by 41% in drivers treated for OSA (compared to an 8% decrease in untreated drivers).

Sleep apnea is an important preventable cause of motor vehicle accidents, and studies have found that treatment for OSA can lower the accident rate. Screening and treatment for OSA have recently been recommended for commercial motor vehicle drivers.

The new study suggests that, in addition to lowering accident rates, treating OSA in commercial motor vehicle drivers can reduce health costs, work absences, and short-term disability. Hoffman and colleagues conclude, “Addressing OSA in the workplace offers the possibility of early identification and intervention for a chronic disease that is associated with increased health benefit utilization.”

The EasyLife Nasal mask by Respironics features their Auto-Seal Technology with allows the mask to create a seal with minimal adjustments. 

Why is it called EasyLife?  Because it make your life easier when it comes to cleaning, fitting, and replacing this mask.  With four parts there are fewer pieces, making this an easy mask to take care of.  The Auto-seal technology is composed of a soft inner cushion and an outer stability cushion. The inner cushion adjusts itself to the contours of your face, creating a soft, comfortable, and lightweight seal; nearly eliminating the need to make the strong adjustments with the straps that you find with other masks.  Then the outer cushion creates support to eliminate over tightening of the straps which can leave marks and cause skin irritation.

This new design has enabled Respironics to create one of its most lightweight, soft, comfortable, and quiet masks of all time.  To see the fitting videos click here.

This is a question I have asked to me nearly every day. The answer may surprise many of you.

In my opinion you should replace the supplies as needed. That may be more or less than what your insurance will pay for. For example, some people will go through cushions or nose pillows faster regardless of how often or thoroughly they clean them due to the fact that their face produces more oils than others. On the other hand, if someone washes their cushion daily it may “last” for several months. Just because it lasts, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be replaced though.

Running shoes are a good analogy for CPAP supplies. One runner runs outdoors, on trail that is dirty. The other runs on a treadmill. The first runner’s shoes will get dirty in one day, he may wash them and they will become clean but they are still essentially new in their ability provide support and cushioning. However, treadmill runner can run for several years before his shoes begin to look dirty. Yet, their ability to provide support and cushioning is gone even though the shoe looks clean.

As time passes, the trail runner can easily know he needs new shoes just by looking. Yet the treadmill runner just needs to try on a pair to fully realize that his shoes are worn out even though they look new.

Your CPAP mask can be the same way. Just because it looks clean and keeps a seal doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need to be replaced. A study done at Harvard Medical School ¹ shows that after 6 months it is impossible to get all the bacteria out of a mask regardless of what you use to wash it with or how vigorously you wash it.

Insurance companies have decided to allow frequent replacement of CPAP supplies for a good reason. They realize that new CPAP supplies increase the likelihood that you will consistently use your CPAP. Consistent CPAP use equals better health for you AND less overall health care costs for you (e.g. deductibles) and your insurance company. A $100 mask is much cheaper than a $500 ER visit or the lifetime cost of diabetes or hypertension. Most insurance companies closely follow Medicare’s CPAP supplies replacement schedule. See the table below for Medicare’s schedule or call your insurance company to see when you would be eligible for new supplies.

Sound Oxygen Service will remind you when your CPAP supplies are due to be replaced. However, you can give us a call anytime if you’d like to order new supplies or to schedule your personalized (re)mask fitting (509) 396-8344.

Equipment:	Billing Code:	Monthly Disbursement:
CPAP (Single Pressure Device)	E0601	1 per 5 years
Auto CPAP (Adjusting Pressure)	E0601	1 per 5 years	Same as above with different internal mechanisms and options
BiLevel S – (Bi-Level Pressure)	E0470	1 per 5 years
Auto Bi-Level (Adjusting Bi-Level Pressure)	E0470	1 per 5 years	Same as above with different internal mechanisms and options
Full Face Mask	A7030	1 per 3 months
Full Face Mask Cushion Replacement	A7031	1 per month
Nasal Mask	A7034	1 per 3 months
Nasal Mask Cushion Replacement	A7032	2 per months
Nasal Pillow Mask/System	A7034	1 per 3 months
Nasal Pillow Replacements	A7033	2 per month
Combination Oral/Nasal Mask	A7027	1 per 3 months
Oral Interface	A7044	1 per 3 months
Headgear	A7035	1 per 6 months
Chinstrap	A7036	1 per 6 months
CPAP Tubing	A7037	1 per 3 months
Climateline Tubing for ResMed S9	A4604	1 per 3 months
Disposable Filter	A7038	2 per month
Non-Disposable Filters	A7039	1 per 6 months
Comfort Care Pad*	A7032	1 per month
Heated Humidifier	E0562	1 per 3 years
Replacement Humdifier Chamber	A7046	1 per 6 months

* The comfort care pad is used to reduce redness on the face where the mask contacts the skin.

1. Horowitz S, Horowitz A, Chun C,. Sleep and Breathing: Care of CPAP Equipment A Factor in Compliance and Hygiene. SLEEP, Volume 32, Abstract Supplement, 2009: A207.

The Swift FX was designed with softness in mind.  Its the softest CPAP mask on the market.  With the only hard plastic pieces used to connect the CPAP tubing, there is nothing to leave any pressure marks on your face.  The mask features a silicone headgear that contours to your face as well as the soft cushions you’ve become familiar with from the ResMed Swift line.  And with the optional soft wraps provided with the mask you have the added benefit of  smooth cloth on your cheeks rather than silicone.

This new innovative headgear and tubing is remarkably light, making the mask lighter on your face and much more comfortable to wear.  The lightweight design is uncompromising when it comes to keeping a seal as the mask’s seal will maintain throughout the night, even when you move.  The smooth swivel and light, flexible tube rotate with a fluid movement, adding to your freedom of movement.

Call today to learn more about the Swift FX and get yours today.

Respironics has recently released their next generation of CPAP and BiPAP devices and we’ve got you covered.

The PR System One machines from Respironics retain all the features you have grown to love with the REMstar series but with improvements.  They have changed the humidification system so that there is significantly less rain out while maintaining the desired humidity levels.  This makes the humidification system more efficient reducing the risk of getting water in the machine and, more importantly, fixes many problems patients have had in the past with rain-out.  many patients complain of water in the tubing making noises or splashing their faces, waking them up.  No more; this system trackes changes in the environment around the machine and adjusts it moisture output accordingly.  (See the graph below)

Respironics has also improved the responsiveness of the PR series machines.  These machines can measure the resistance of each Respironics mask and calculate that into the algorithm making the machine more responsive to you and the way you breath; increasing the effectiveness and accuracy of the delivered pressures.  See how it works with an OptiLife mask here

Let us know if you have any questions or want to see if you are eligible to get the new and improved PR System One CPAP and BiPAP machines from Respironics.

The big topic on everyone’s mind regarding CPAP lately has been compliance. Let me explain what compliance is and why it is so important.

So you may be asking “What is compliance?”

Compliance is the measurement of how much you use your CPAP machine and if it is working for you. As far as Medicare is concerned, you are not compliant unless you are using your machine at least 4 hours each night for 70% of the nights. So, if you use your machine 22 days out of 30 for at least 4 hours a night you are compliant. If you use your machine for 3 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds, well, that night you did not use it enough so you were noncompliant.

But wait, there’s more…

For Medicare to accept that you are compliant your physician must say that you are. By simply showing that you use the machine enough either with a download from the machine or by visual inspection of the machine and reading the hours of theraputic use is not enough. You must also visit your doctor within the 30th and 91st day of receving your CPAP machine.

The reason Medicare wants you to go back to your physician is because they want to make sure people are seeing results; that people being treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are feeling better. They, like the rest of us, want to get something out of their money. And when people use CPAP machines to treat OSA it does make a difference. There have been several studies showing that the medical costs of a patient with OSA drop by about 50% if they are compliant with their CPAP machine.

Why is this important for me?

This is important for you because if you are noncompliant you have three options under Medicare’s new guidelines. Either you pay for the machine out of your pocket, we have to come and pick it up, or you have to go back through another sleep study to determine that you really do need to have the CPAP therapy. Besides that, you will only feel the benefit of the machine if you are compliant. Why use a machine if you don’t feel any benefit and if you body doesn’t show any improvement?

We will work with you to get you through your compliance period and beyond. As a matter of fact Sound Oxygen Service has a compliance rate of over 90%. The industry status quo has shown to have a compliance rate of as little as 40% in some places.

We go the extra mile so you don’t have to

Getting you compliant is what we do. Whether we have to set you up at your home, fit you with a new mask, come and show you how to fit your mask, or come and re-teach how the machine works; we will help you become compliant and get the most out of your CPAP therapy.

The body is an interesting machine. During the day more cells are destroyed than the body can rebuild even without heavy exercise. At night the body shuts down all unneeded activities and goes into REM sleep for several hours. During this time the body is able to rebuild cells faster than they are used up. If for some reason this deep sleep is interrupted or skipped the body gets behind on the rebuilding process. If this non-rebuilding continues the body will show signs that it is not getting fixed by things such as diabetes, high-blood pressure, stroke, or other such maladies.

One cause for this deep sleep interruption is sleep apnea. When the body fully relaxes to go into this REM sleep, the throat muscles relax and close the airway to the lungs. One then cannot breathe. This causes the body to awaken enough to bring one out of deep sleep. If this event occurs often enough during the night the body will not accomplish the rebuilding function.

A CPAP device creates an air stint in the throat to keep the airway passage open throughout the night. This allows the body to go into REM sleep for a period long enough to get the cell rebuilding completed. Millions of people have successfully utilized a CAP device to help them get a good night’s sleep.

Some of the benefits reported by CPAP users are having more energy, weight loss, clear thinking and an improved lifestyle.

All of your CPAP supplies should be routinely cared for and replaced including the mask, headgear, humidifier chamber, filter, and tubing.

Cleaning supplies

Clean all your supplies as recommended by their manufacturer though most have common guidelines. Use a liquid dish detergent without oils or fragrances. Clean the mask cushion daily; the headgear, tubing, and water chamber weekly. Check with your manufacturer on the filters as there are a few different kinds of filters that must be cleaned in different ways. For example, the REMstar Pro by Respironics uses 2 filters, a white disposable fine filter that gets thrown away after it gets dirty, and a dark gray pollen filter that is cleaned every week and the Resmed S8 series machines use a filter that cannot get wet to clean, instead simply remove the dust weekly by “flicking” the filter.

Replacing supplies

Manufactures suggest replacing your CPAP supplies regularly to help maintain cleanliness and effective treatment. Each insurance company will pay for new supplies based on their policies. Here is Medicare’s most current replacement schedule, most insurance companies follow these guidelines but you may want to check with your insurance to verify what their schedule is:

Automatic CPAP supplies

At Sound Oxygen Service we have created a program that keeps your supplies up to date. If you sign up for our Auto-Replenishment program we will contact you when you are due for new supplies. We will call, e-mail, or send a post card depending on your preference; and we will never ship without you knowing about it which will prevent the build up of unwanted or needed supplies that occurs with some other providers. Call us today to set up your Auto-Replenishment with us today.