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Here are some tips about equipment I've learned along the way:

1.  Research what's on the market before you see your MD. (We can help you do the research to help you find the type of equipment that probably would be best for you).  That way, you can have an intelligent discussion with him/her about what equipment might be best for you, and get an appropriate prescription for the machine and humidifier.
  
2.  I recommend asking the doctor to write on the prescription "Mask of patient's preference". Otherwise, if you have a prescription for a specific mask and discover another would be better, you'll have to contact the doctor's office for a new prescription. What a pain. You may want to check with your insurance company first, to be sure they'll reimburse for that general prescription, or whether they require a prescription for a specific type of mask.

3. Whenever your doctor writes a prescription, get a copy at that time.This copy is power! Once you get it, you can easily go to another DME even if the doctor's office sends you to a !@#! one.  Make a copy for your files and give the new DME another copy. Be sure to let the !@#! DME know you're switching and that you do not want them to fill the prescription the office had sent. Also, let them know why you're switching -- maybe they'll start to get their act together for future patients.

4.  Keep a log of your calls to the DME, doctor's office, etc. You'll need it, to be able to refer back to what you were told on what date.

4.  Once a prescription has been sent to a DME, call the next day to see if they got it and make sure the equipment is being ordered that day. Otherwise, it may sit around until someone gets around to processing it. I once had a prescription delayed for a week because the only person who could order the equipment was on vacation! Of course, the DME didn't tell me that, just that she was unavailable each time I called.

5.  Give the DME 2 phone calls about a situation. If it isn't handled by then, ask to speak to the manager and calmly ask that person to help you. I found the manager of the office much more receptive than the phone-answerers to helping me solve a problem.

6.  If necessary, fax a complaint to the manager. I described the problems I'd had and said I was planning to go to one of their competitors if the situation wasn't resolved within 24 hours.  Guess what...I had my equipment the next day.

7. If a DME does do a good job, write them a letter thanking them for their service. Voila....now you're one of the good guys in their mind. If you call about another problem, casually mention "I'm so-and-so, the one who sent you the letter praising you." A shameless tactic? Yeah, but it works.

8.  Once you've had some experience, consider ordering from an online provider. Important: check first to see how your insurance will handle the cost. Online vendors are usually outside the network of preferred providers, so you might have to pay a higher percentage of the cost. It may be worth it.

9. Use your common sense about when to order online. I recommend using a DME when you need individual instruction, for example, the first time you get a particular machine or most masks. Then, if you're happy with the equipment, order replacements on line. Also, some masks you can fit by yourself. I got the ComfortLite 2 mask and got the directions for fitting it from the manufacturer's Web site. It was a cinch to fit it to myself.

NancyRN