bettercare_new2

Jump to: Choosing a Mask, Cleaning Instructions

better caredirectSM is Respira Medical's® CPAP/BiLevel supply replenishment compliance program to better manage your sleep therapy and help you obtain the best possible results.

Timely and scheduled replacement of your CPAP/BiLevel supplies is an essential component for the proper operation of your CPAP/BiLevel machine. Masks, headgear, filters, tubing, and humidifier chambers have a limited lifespan and should be replaced on a regular basis. Although patients should be cleaning their supplies regularly, normal usage of these supplies nightly results in their breakdown, which may lead to significant problems with a patient’s sleep therapy and compliance.

In order to prevent such problems from occurring, the better caredirectSM division of Respira Medical® has established a compliance and replenishment program for patients’ supplies which is recommended and covered by all insurance carriers. The better caredirectSM division has an automated system that will contact each patient approximately 30 days after initial setup and then approximately every 3 months thereafter to take a compliance survey for their physician.  Each patient enrolled in the program will also be contacted by the automated system to reorder replacement supplies depending on the frequency of replacement allowed by their primary insurance carrier for their CPAP/BiLevel machine.

Supplies will ONLY be shipped to you if they are requested via our automated system or by contacting one of our representatives at the office. These supplies will be shipped to your home via a third party carrier.

If you are interested in enrolling in this program, please contact the better caredirectSM division of Respira Medical® at 1-866-373-7747 to order your supplies or enroll in our program.

Facts Regarding the Medsage Email Notification Process
You will receive an email when you become eligible to replace your CPAP / BiLevel supplies from the following email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please be sure that your email account is setup to receive emails from this address and does not block or mark it as spam. Please also be sure to respond to the email that you receive even if you do not require supplies at that time because if you do not respond to the email, you will be disenrolled in Respira'sSM better caredirectSM program and will not receive future notifications for the replacement of your supplies.

Choosing a Mask

Choosing a mask ( interface ) for your CPAP unit can be quite a frustrating experience. There are three major categories of interfaces to choose from.

First there are nasal pillows. These devices have a set of short tubes that fit into the ends of the nose similar to an oxygen cannula. They are thicker and do have the connecting tubing coming out of either the side or front of the device. Pillows are the least intrusive of the methods connecting you to the CPAP machine. A common problem associated with pillows is a "burning" sensation in the nose due to the concentrated air flow. Humidity and a heater seem to help relieve this problem for some people. Nasal pillows typically come with a variety of sizes so it is easy to determine which size fits you correctly.

Secondly, nasal masks are the most common device used with CPAP. These masks cover the entire nose and usually have some sort of forehead pad attached to them. Hundreds of these masks are produced with the majority of them copies of original or very popular items. Many different styles exist with each manufacturer changing a strap here or a pad there. There can be extreme differences between manufacturers so switching from one style to another is not easy and does require an experienced therapist to determine which mask is right for you. Another variation to nasal masks is the "gel" mask which has a layer of gel material lining the mask. The gel tends to conform to the contours of your face bettor than a mask without gel. The drawback is that the gel is a little heavier. The other benefit to the gel is that it can be molded to the contours of your face which can be very helpful in some cases.

The third style of mask is the "full face mask". This mask covers the nose and the mouth to help solve the problem of mouth breathing. You may have experienced this type of mask during your sleep study. Lab technicians find it to be the easiest mask to fit to get you through the night. Again, you do need the assistance of an experienced therapist to fit you properly for this type of mask.

Cleaning Instructions

Cleaning your mask, tubing, and water chamber are a very important part of your therapy. Your mask should be wiped out daily with a wet washcloth to remove the facial oils that accumulate. Mild soap can be used also. The tubing and the water chamber should be cleaned at least once per week with soap and water and rinsed completely. The headgear can be cleaned in the washer, check the instructions that came with the mask. The filters should be checked weekly and cleaned per set up instructions.

*Disclaimer – This site does not provide medical advice. The content of the site, including text, graphics, images, information and other material contained on the site (the "Content"), are intended for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.