Sleep Disordered Breathing and Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is currently the most effective treatment for many forms of sleep disordered breathing. Recent technological advancements in PAP therapy have made it potentially even more effective and more comfortable than in the past. However, overall nationwide compliance rates remain low, as patients are often rushed through the system, over-titrated, or placed on inappropriate therapy modes relative to their condition.
Improved compliance with PAP therapy begins with proper diagnosis and treatment initiation. If these first steps are not carried out correctly, therapy is less effective and patients are less likely to comply with treatment. Successful PAP titration requires an understanding of sleep physiology and its effects on respiration before, during, and after the titration process. Clinicians and technologists must be aware of the potential effects of rebound sleep and know how to respond to these effects without over-treating the patients.
Long-term success also requires comprehensive patient education and follow-up. This is often a shared responsibility involving the reading and referring physicians, the sleep center staff, the home care provider, and in some instances, a patient caregiver. Without effective support, the patient may easily become discouraged and frustrated with the treatment.
Recent Medicare policy revisions now require comprehensive PAP follow-up with compliance documentation. Objective compliance data requires the use of "smart" PAP devices that track usage and efficacy of treatment. Interpreting the reports generated by these devices requires a solid understanding of their capabilities and limitations, and the ability to detect possible errors or artifacts.
This course provides an in-depth discussion of these essential topics, with practical strategies for obtaining the best possible results with PAP therapy. The course covers all currently available modes of PAP therapy and their applications, including bi-level PAP (BPAP), bi-level spontaneous and timed modes, adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) and other currently available options.
The course faculty has extensive experience with PAP therapy, dating back to the early clinical CPAP trials conducted in the 1980s. The faculty also includes representatives from a small-business DME provider, who have succeeded in maintaining an approximately 85% compliance rate among their patients.
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