Beware – check out your providers

People with disabilities and others with specific medical issues, must rely on specialized healthcare companies for things such as medical supplies, services such as specialized testing, supportive care and many other things that cannot be addressed directly by our physicians.

In a perfect world, one would imagine healthcare services companies are started by people in the industry that recognize a need, that have a skill or interest in providing the service (rightfully tied to their need to make a living and support themselves), and one would hope the motivation to be of help to their customers.

Unfortunately though, I do find that there are companies that operate with a total disinterest in their patients well-being.  They simply want to get the product sold and get paid.  As long as the patient is alive and has health insurance, they’re happy.  One of those seems to clearly be Lifecare Solutions.

My use of  their “services” has been for respiratory care. I relied on them for almost 2 years, with my primary contact being through their “respiratory therapists”.

A respiratory therapist is supposed to actually examine and unsure the supplies they are giving you work.  According to their own Respiratory Therapist supervisor, when they deliver supplies, they are supposed to ensure they are in working order.  More specifically in my case, they are supposed to make sure BiPAP/CPAP equipment is functioning properly. Make certain the masks fit and function as intended, and again, according to Lifecare Solution’s (San Diego) own Respiratory Therapist manager (name with-held by choice), when they bring new equipment, specifically in this conversation a BiPAP mask, they should:

  • Evaluate the correct type of mask. (note: there are different types such as nasal, nasal pillow, full face)
  • Check the fit to ensure proper seal, no significant air leakage and
  • Connect it with your machine (CPAP/BiPAP) and check for leaks.
  • Operate the CPAP/BiPAP to ensure the machine and all equipment are functioning correctly.

The fact is, their “respiratory therapists” (with one exception) do NONE of these things.  In my last visit from a respiratory therapist from Lifecare Solutions, he did what they all1 do, which is, he laid out three different masks, still in their original packaging, and asked me “which do you want to try?”  I told him I didn’t know what I should try. I re-explained the issues yet again, hoping it would guide a suggestion, but his response was only, “Well, pick one and try it.”  As expected, he didn’t open it to see if it fit. He didn’t ask me to try it on. He didn’t even touch it. He simply picked up the other two and handed me a clipboard for a signature.  Not once during the visit did he even look for, ask for or look in the direction of the actual BiPAP machine. He didnt’ ask if there were any problems with it. He didn’t ask if the hoses were ok.  He simply wanted to get a signature and leave.  A delivery boy, not a respiratory therapist.

It seems that I’m far from the only one having difficulties with this company.

1 – they have one therapist who actually acts like a medical professional. Unfortunately he’s the only one. 

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