We get it. Adjusting to CPAP therapy is not easy and it takes time. The effort is well worth the efforts as CPAP therapy not only improves the quality of sleep, but it can also save lives from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, work and auto-related accidents, etc.
Our team at Everything CPAP is focused on one goal – improving the quality and quantity of our patient’s sleep, and therefore their health. Our metrics to reach this goal is measured by CPAP compliance. What is compliance and how is it measured?
“CPAP compliance is often defined as using the therapy for an average of 4 hours a night for at least 70% of the nights. Studies show that somewhere between 29% and 83% of patients do not meet the criteria for compliance due to removing the CPAP early in the night and/or skipping use altogether.”
– Sleep Review Magazine
Our goal is to work in close partnership with each of our patients – to listen, to resolve and to provide alternative solutions to any issues or complaints they experience, from the first week of their therapy through the life of their CPAP usage. We have years of experience and industry-certified expertise to successfully overcome common complaints, for example: leaky or uncomfortable CPAP masks, incorrect pressure settings, dry or stuffy nose, feeling claustrophobic, facial skin irritation or sores, and trouble falling asleep.
Instead of waiting for our patients to approach us with a CPAP-related issue or concern, we provide a responsive and hands-on approach to mitigate any problems before those issues discourage the patient from continued use. The sooner we can address any issues or discomfort, we increase the compliance rates and give our patients a better chance of success at a better night’s sleep.
How we Provide a Hands-On Approach to CPAP Therapy
Our Vision: Everything CPAP will serve the people of the greater southwest Idaho region with a comprehensive approach to sleep apnea care through the integration of education, instruction, clinical research, excellence in follow up, and a personalized approach to treatment.
Our Mission: The owners and employees of Everything CPAP are dedicated to the improvement and extension of our patient’s lives through personalized care, use of state-of-the-art equipment, constant innovation, and clinical research.
In line with our vision and our mission to improve not only your nights’ sleep but your overall health and life, we have a recipe for success to improve CPAP success and longevity.
Our Ten Steps to Improved CPAP Compliance
I. Vetted and Tested Technology: We use only the highest quality supplies and most high-tech CPAP machines, masks, and accessories available on the market. Our equipment is fully vetted, reviewed and researched to offer the best treatment available.
II. Personalized care: No two people are alike, thus there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach at Everything CPAP. Our treatment plans are dictated by the needs of the patient, their doctor or sleep professional’s recommendations and the comfort level of each patient. We take each patient on a case-to-case basis, making needed modifications for their unique health concerns as well as their weight, height, gender, sleep patterns, and even the shape of their face.
III. Adjustments to Address Issues: We realize some patients will take to CPAP like a fish to water, while others will struggle but eventually with consistent use, it will click. Don’t give up is our motto. CPAP therapy will save your life so it’s well worth the time and patience it takes to become accustomed to it. Our team of specialists, Respiratory Therapists and Sleep Technologists, are certified, trained and experienced to hear your complaints, address your concerns, and make needed adjustments to your CPAP Therapy plan. As needed, we can make the following adjustments to ensure a good night’s sleep:
- Mask Replacement: If your doctor has prescribed a specific mask, we will supply that one, but in most cases, patients are free to try several masks of different types and manufacturers until they find the one, they like. We offer an unconditional Mask Guarantee with over 200 mask options.
- Pressure Settings: We can either pursue doctor-recommended adjustments to the current CPAP pressure settings or recommend amachine with Ramp settings, which gradually increase pressure as the patient falls asleep and resets it each time patient awakes.
- Provide Accessories to increase Comfort: We can recommend and supply a host of accessories that will improve your success and comfort, including pillows, fabric wraps, nasal pads, chin straps, mask liners, dry mouth relief tablets and even aromatherapy.
IV. Early and Ongoing Education: We provide remote or in-person fittings of their mask and training of their CPAP device preparing the CPAP user on setup, making needed adjustments, cleaning, and maintenance. Even the best equipment can result in failed treatments if proper fitting and training is not administered to the patient, and thus ensure our patient’s sleep’s success. Motivation for continued usage is also achieved through early and ongoing education, as we can address any health issues related to OSAS and instruct the patient how CPAP can reverse many of the problems the patient may be experiencing.
V. Remote Access: During the COVID-19 pandemic, we made greater use of our remote access for fittings, trainings, and ongoing support to keep our patients safe. But it also opened many of our eyes to other benefits, including greater convenience, treating patients in a large geographical area (from Northern to Southern Idaho), and now it can also provide cost savings, considering the rising cost of gasoline.
VI. Our Online Store: We created the store to improve access for our patients and CPAP users in Idaho and surrounding areas, so they can easily reorder parts and supplies without having to use a national chain DME Provider. And for non-patients and out-of-state residents, we offer a full line of non-prescription supplies, CPAP parts and accessories.
VII. Our Resupply Program: Our online resupply program ensures that you get your CPAP supplies and replacement equipment on time via our online portal. Our registered patients will receive a monthly email notification when it’s time to replace your supplies and which supplies which you are eligible for and be able to place an order online.* The recommended schedule by most insurance companies is as follows:
- A standard insurance replacement schedule is shown below:
- Every month:
(1) full face mask cushion
(2) nasal mask cushions
(2) disposable filters
- Every 3 months:
(1) full face or nasal mask (this does not include the headgear)
(1) heated tube or non-heated tube
(1) Mask frame
- Every 6 months:
(1) headgear
(1) non-disposable filter
(1) water chamber
- Every month:
VIII. Ongoing Monitoring: We provide remote or in-person monitoring, our staff builds a relationship of trust and care with our patients, so we can detect any issues and implement doctor-recommended solutions. Our schedule of care after the first initial training and fitting includes several check-ins and checkups.
- One week: Get feedback from patient on any issues or concerns, answer questions and make needed adjustments.
- Three weeks: Mask checkup to confirm comfort level and leakage issues. This is completed at three weeks because you have up to 30 days before you can exchange your mask with our Mask Fit Guarantee.**
- Three Months: Go over online monitoring and reports to determine success, encourage continued usage with reminding them of the benefits, and make any needed adjustments to their treatment plan.
- Six months: (same as three months)
- Annual Checkup: If there are no further issues or adjustments needed, the frequency of checkups will resume at a minimum of once per year.
- As Needed: If any problems arise between or before your next appointment, we encourage you to reach out to our staff as soon as possible. One of our Respiratory Therapists or Sleep Technologists will contact you to overcome any hurdles and make the needed adjustments to your CPAP therapy.
IX. Small but Effective: While other companies may be too big to care about you as a patient or use outdated technologies, at Everything CPAP you can rest assured knowing that you will have the best treatment available. We strive to make sure our patients receive the care they deserve and the help they need to be successful in treating their sleep apnea. Our track record, our 100+ 5-Star Google Reviews, and our high patient compliance rate are all evidence of our proven and effective values: excellence and innovation with a personal touch.
X. We offer 24/7 Technical Support: If you need technical support after hours, our staff is available to our existing patients twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to prevent or address treatment failures.
Why we are Idaho’s #1 CPAP Solution Center
At Everything CPAP we understand how serious of a problem untreated sleep apnea can be for your health. It is our goal to make sure we do everything we can to help you have a great experience from the first time you come in and every time after for years to come. We have urgent technical support available 24 hours a day and seven days a week by phone for vital problems that may arise.
If you are currently having issues or know someone that is, please feel free to reach out to our staff, whether they are a current patient or not. We have been in business for multiple years and our team has a combined experience of 120+ years, so we have probably heard or seen a similar issue and found an acceptable work-around.
Footnotes:
*If you are looking for a CPAP device, mask or accessory that is hard to find, please contact us. We have partnerships with various manufacturers and can find products that are not normally sourced from main suppliers. As long as the item is CPAP-related, there is a good chance we can find it. If not, it’s always better to ask us as we can recommend similar product to fit your needs.
** Everything CPAP offers an unconditional Mask Fit Guarantee with over 200 mask options, proper fitting by our staff at our initial visit as well as ongoing support for our patients.
