“Adherence is something the patient should want to do so they can sleep better, whereas compliance is something they need to do for insurance and reimbursement purposes,” Eric Cohen, President of National Sleep Therapy, told several hundred participants in a recent national webcast on CPAP compliance. The webcast was sponsored by medical device maker ResMed in association with Sleep Review Magazine (www.sleepreviewmag.com)
Cohen, who previously worked in new product innovation for Fortune 500 companies, noted, “Helping and coaching a few patients along the compliance road is easy, but doing so for thousands of people, all with different needs and experiences, requires a more sophisticated approach. To achieve the best health outcomes, you must build a strong relationship and become a trusted advisor.”
Behind the scenes, NST measures everything to constantly improve outcomes from patients and performance by all its staff. “Helping patients become adherent to therapy is a team effort between our company, the patient, and their physician. In this integrated approach, we must add value to both stakeholders to be seen as a true partner,” Cohen said.
By having a clear corporate mission to help patients succeed on CPAP therapy and developing a carefully structured patient engagement and support system, NST has created a patient population that is engaged, inspired, and motivated to be successful.
Eric Cohen told the webcast audience, “With a little help from technology, and basic principles on how to engage, motivate, and inspire, we’ve created a real team focused on CPAP success. And lots of people are sleeping more soundly resulting in a better quality of life, maybe even a longer life.”
National Sleep Therapy (www.nstherapy.com) has earned a reputation as an industry pioneer. NST sponsors a monthly free virtual support group for people with sleep apnea and healthcare pros (www.cpaptalklive.com For more information, contact 888.867.8840 or support@nstherapy.com.
“Sleeping isn’t the best way to spend your life – but getting a good night’s sleep is the key to a better quality of life – and can help you live longer.”
“I was in my 50’s when a cardiologist discovered my atrial fibrillation,” recalls Katz. “The irregular heartbeat was either genetic or due to weight gain. By my early 60’s, I found that I was always tired and had less energy. The doctor recommended a sleep test at Gaylord Sleep Center in North Haven. I learned that though I was in bed for 8 hours each night, I wasn’t getting the deep sleep I needed. I was having almost 50 apnea episodes per hour and my oxygen levels were dropping dramatically.”