I'm disappointed.

[Ross]

Unless the unit can be tested for accuracy against their labs, my insurance isn't going to cover the machine. Now all I have to do is get the unit in their door and run the tests and see.

[Granbonny]

got an e-mail for the North Canton Medical Center??? and we home testers will swamp Dr. Johnson will the Pros and cons of home testing.. I would have never known mine was a 4.3..testing once a month or whatever..Got it down in 3 days with salads.:)

[LUVMyBirman]

Interesting Ross. Thank you for posting the information. I am sorry it did not work out in your interest. Can you tell us which machine they were '"testing" against the lab? I am the owner of a Coaguchek. Have checked my unit against the lab on numerous of occasion. Always withing .02 of the lab. Which is an acceptable.
I did have a problem once, it was obvious so I went to the lab. Results were not matching. My machine was replaced.

[Ross]

I sent a copy of that to QAS in hopes they'd take a whack at trying to prove the accuracy of their equipment. I haven't heard anything back as of yet. I couldn't get NCMF to tell me what brand or unit they tested, so I think something is fishy in the local pond.

[Hank]

What a bunch of crack smokers. People who don't know the whole story are always trying to ding a good thing. Get their email Ross and we'll email them with wisdom which is something they lack.

[Ross]

By Telephone:
Non-appointment calls:
330-494-6820

Administration Fax Number:
330-494-3606

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

http://www.northcantonmedical.org/feedback.htm

They won't give an email address, but the page above has as option to receive a reply by email, so I guess this is the answer?

10/14/2002
I have sent mail to them and have not received a reply. My phone calls go unanswered also. I think I ticked them off a bit.

[QAS]

We tried to call that number, checked our database, and we have had no record of the clinic in that letter. I have alot of studies about the reliability of our device, and even have a book of technical reports. The ProTime Monitor has an ISI of 1.0 and an R value of .97, all of which are excellent when correlating to the lab. Drop me an email at lvisnich@hometestmed.com if you have any concerns over the accuracy of the device. I will also call the manufacturer rep for that state and see if we had a monitor in their office for the correlation.

Thanks,

Lance

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Ross,

When you have a moment to iron things out, let us know what the outcome was. I once had a hematologist that monitored my levels. Big source of his practice revenue was managing coumadin patients. Hence was opposed to prescribing the unit for home use.

There are others out there that have tested such units and are aware of the accuracy percentages. You may need to find another prescribing provider. My former insurance company reimbursed for a portion of the unit. But would not pay for the supplies. If that is not nuts. My new carrier supposedly will pay for the supplies. Awaiting the submitted claim

Good luck to you. It is to your advantage to persue!

[Ross]

Thanks Lance

I want to prove to them that it is accurate. After my extended stay of 5 1/2 weeks in CSICU, I have no real veins for them to hit and it isn't any fun having it taken out of your hand!

I'd appreciate and welcome getting the product in their door for testing. If they are satisified then, I stand a chance of approval.

[Blanche]

dear, dear Ross,
I'm so happy to see you, I could just spit!!! The hoops we need to jump in order to get a home monitor are many. You have overcome so much. You'll get your monitor, I'm sure. More hoops.
Kind regards,
Blanche

PS. Your son was such consolation to all of us as we wondered about you all that time. Gosh, I missed you.

[QAS]

Dear Ross,

Please give me a call so that I can do my best to help you with your situation. Maybe your Dr. just needs some good referrals, case studies, tech reports, etc. Also, we can have one of our nurses call the Dr. to go over everything. My number is 800-298-4515 ext. 2865. Thanks,

Lance

[Ross]

Thanks Lance.
I'll do that as soon as I get everything else squared away. My wife isn't very good at general household financial management. I have a few things that need to get straightened before I can approach with the idea of the product.

[Gisele]

I am now trying to get BCBS of MA to cover my supplies. When they agreed to purchase the unit for me they said they would cover supplies for one year. Well, the year is up and now I am trying to get them to give me full coverage. However, and this is the biggie....if they contact my cardio doc, I know he will not give them a verbal or written thumbs up on the unit. The variances are too frequent and wide.

Too be honest, I had a rep from Protime call me before my one year was up, and she said that she was going to try to get a new unit shipped to me just in case mine was defective. She really sounded sincere as I explained my situation. I never heard backfrom her, nor did a new unit ever arrive. Apparantly, Protime seems to think that the difference between 3.6 with monitor and 4.5 with lab is OK. (that's just one of them). My doctor does not think this is OK. With a history of a subdural, and then this past March having the bleed in my hip from Lovenox I also am not sure that this is OK. I find that my Protime unit tends to give me lower results than the lab. Because of my results I was prescibed Lovenox. Guess I ran into problems with that one. My original machine (from Avocet that went out of business was right on target). I do everything the way I should but I feel my results should be closer together. I tried bringing my unit to hospital to have both testing done at the same time, etc.... I continue to use my unit, and I do love the advantages, but again, I would feel more comfortable if the lab and my unit were more consistant.
Thats my opinion.
Good luck to you Ross.
Gisele

[SHerrin Hutt]

Hi Ross
I have been working on trying to get my own unit since this summer and I think it maybe getting it next week and the insurance is going to pay for it . Surprrise!!!! I Had my surgery last march and I have had it tested at least once a week and some times more. This will be so great.
SHerrin Hutt
Mitri Valve Replacement 3/02

[Gisele]

Just noticed a little typing error. MD will give thumbs down on unit.

[Michele]

In regards to the ProTime monitor I can tell you that our machine correlates very well with the lab. We have a multi-center study report with stats that explain how well we correlate with the lab and that people who test once a week maintain the desired level of anticoagulation 85% of the time while those using a monthly schedule of monitoring maintain the desired level 50-60% of the time. Our company also works on getting approval from your insurance company and provides desired information to your insurance.

[Ross]

Thanks Michelle. I've somewhat talked to Lance about it. What I'd like to do is get your product into their lab and let them test the accuracy. If you have a sales representitive in the Akron/Canton Ohio area, I'd sure like to try to get the unit in their door.

[Michele]

Let me call the sales rep in the Ohio area and see what they have to say about it. I'll post the outcome of my conversation.

[Ross]

Thank you so much. I don't think it was your product that they tested. The way I see this is you may even gain a few sales from the foundation themselves, if it will compare closely with their lab results.

[SHerrin Hutt]

Hi Ross,
I have my machine for two weeks now. I have had at the DR. and ran two protime machine at the same time. There was only 3 pts. difference in theirs and mine. It is really nice having it at home. My insurance co. is paying for everthing. I can't believe it.
I have been trying to get this since this summer.
Sherrin Hutt
St. Jude valve replacement. 3/02
Louisville, Ky

[Zipper]

I trust in my machine and feel confidence in being able to test at home every 7-10 days. I indulge in a great Ceasar Salad if I'm a bit high..otherwise eat Iceberg...hmmm..it's just ok. I tested at 3.7 yesterday, so I even ate a sprig of Broccoli..lol!

I also go to my Lab every 6-7 weeks so my Doc will receive the report. He knows I home test and is in favor of it, so I only do the Lab as an extra precaution and assurance to him and me. My insurance pays zero for my unit and supplies, even tho I have an excellent Blue Shield PPO policy thru my hospital job. The venous draw doesn't bother me at all as we have an expert in our Lab..he knows my tiny veins.

I have had excellent results thus far and wish the same for everyone. I agree that you must trust your mode of testing and not try to get multiple tests in multiple ways/labs to match exactly. I think this causes over reactions/anxiety and skepticism where it may not be needed.

Ross, I hope your INR settles down..it will in time, I'm sure. Everyone that is over-anxious...please chill...lol...and have confidence in your chosen method. What suits one does not suit all..go with what you and your Doc are comfortable with.

Zip *~*

[Ross]

I was once again, getting my PT checked at the clinic yesterday, and asked the person who was working with me if she remembered what unit they tested and why it flunked out. It was a Coaguchek unit. The way she was talking, I'm not at all convinced that they even knew how to use the unit properly. She said that in one instance, the unit gave off an error code that the room was too cold?

She could have been trying to Buffalo me, but even she said that they would be open to trying another unit. They say patient comfort is one priority, but I'm thinking profits take precedence.

I'm not knocking the place, but I'd like them to give these things a true chance. I'd love to see (Be there physically and watch) the results from the lab and from the machine at the same time. I'll bet it's not as far off as I'm being told. ;)

[JimL]

I think my local hospital makes out better with the Acuchek machine than with the veinous draw. I go and give a drop of blood to one nurse and am done in five minutes. But they charge the same, or slightly more, than for a veinous draw.

[ALCapshaw]

ROSS -

Re: Hand Sticks - Ask the technician to use a Butterfly or the smallest acceptable needle for the INR tests. My experience with SMALL needles in the hand is that they are 'not too bad'.

'AL'

[Granbonny]

yesterday at my PCP office. I have to laugh. Had a new nurse who didn't know me and they always want to know why you are there and I said to check b/p and get new med ( Hubby knows every potty in 3 counties:D ) And then she ask me about myself and I told her and then before I could say anything she had popped my finger (don't think she even put alcohol on it) and I was so excited I didn't say anything and it was a Coaguchek machine and it popped up 2.2.. She didn't say anything. I told my doctor I had just checked it 3 days before at 2.6...and my clinical nurse said to go 3 weeks before I check again. THANK goodness, my PCP doesn't monitor my INR.:p :p Bonnie P.S. Those of you with Coaguchek's..how do you incise your finger. Hope not the way she did me..Pop with a big needle.

[Gisele]

Last winter we had an unusually cold night, and I keep my Protime unit in my hutch (which is against the wall on the north side of the house). When I got up one morning, it was freezing downstairs and I knew I felt cold, but when I got an error reading from my protime indicating that the unit itself was too cold, I knew it wasn't just me!

I stood in front of the pellet stove and warmed up the unit (and my fingers:D ) and then it functioned just fine.

Ross, I am curious what the room temperature had been where that unit was stored. ? summer time and the A/C was too high, or cold out and the heat had been turned down?
Just a thought.

Gisele

[Ross]

Al C, I've been having them use the 23 1/4 gauge butterflies, but there is one nurse in the place that no matter how much I ask her not to use the 20 gauge, she still does. I try like mad not to get her when it comes time to draw.

Gisele-I don't know how cold it was or where they were testing at the time. They say they tested the Coaguchek units in July. During summer, they keep the A/C at about 75F. The Clinic is making money hand over fist on these tests, so I think they'd do just about anything to deny a quicker, more convenient method any day. I got a statement from the insurance co. It's $20 to draw and $45 for the lab. I've been going every week. It's not hard for me to see why they don't want to authorize me for my own testing. They'd lose the money from the insurance company. ;)