What you should know, if you are using a Medical Device, Compliance, Protection, ,Convenience, and Privacy (CPCP)

By: Selina C. Safari, RN

While studying for my RN boards, I had the opportunity to work in a sleep lab as a technician. One of the things I observed was the way that many of the patients transported their CPAP equipment to the clinic. On some occasions, patients would come with their CPAP machines stuffed in grocery bags or sometimes in shoulder strapped bags that looked like lunch bags. Neglecting to bring their masks and or hoses because of the belief that neither of these accessories required any routine maintenance. On those occasions when the hose was present, it would be twisted in a bag, taped at times at the area where a leak presented itself. Again this was the lack of routine maintenance. When asked how often the machine was serviced, the answer ranged from months to years.

Being in the medical field and understanding the importance of the machine as well as the well being of the patient, I found it inconceivable of the neglect that the patient(s) chose to care for themselves as well as the machine. I then began to investigate to see why patients neglected the necessary care and or maintenance of what I termed as one’s “life line.”

What I realize was that many of these patients were not able to physically carry and or transport their equipment safely to the clinics and or sleep labs for any routine maintenance adjustments that may be warranted. Because of this inconvenience, non- compliance ranged from routine checks of equipment to regular doctor appointments.

This would eventually cause the machine to operate ineffectively and or decrease the efficiency of the equipment. Another factor that came to mind was privacy. Many patients are not inclined to share with the world any medical issues he or she is experiencing. Again the convenience of transporting the equipment coincides with the privacy and the end user. This becomes a vicious cycle for the user. In the user’s mind, these concerns are valid. But from a medical point of view, the inconsistency of utilizing the machine as prescribed causes other medical problems for the patient. This includes but not limited to high blood pressure and or heart problems to mention a few.

My husband who is a professional engineer, and I began to consult to find a design that would transport the CPAP equipment and the necessary accessories addressing the issues of the CPAP users. The four areas of concern were Convenience, Protection, Compliance, and Privacy (CPCP). Our thought for Convenience was the transporting of the heavy CPAP machine as well as the cumbersome hose in one unit. For Protection, Device Carrier 101 model on the outside resembles an ordinary carry on luggage while concealing and protecting the contents within. The uniqueness of the carry on is the shelves for the CPAP machine and the hose. The machine can be strapped down so that the machine is transported in a more secure way, preventing damage to the unit. Areas of Compliance is extremely important because the patient will be more inclined to keep scheduled maintenance appointments for the machine as well as routine medical appointments with his or her doctor. The issue of Privacy allows the patient to travel anywhere he or she wishes from the car to the airplane without the embarrassment of others staring and or asking personal questions.