SAN CARLOS, Calif.--SleepQuest has partnered with ResMed, San Diego, to conduct clinical trials of a new wireless technology used to monitor patients with obstructive sleep apnea from wherever they are sleeping.
In a release issued earlier this month, SleepQuest explained that using Bluetooth technology, sleep data transmits instantly from a CPAP or other medical device to the company's Sleep Care Specialists. Ultimately, the technology could not only reduce the need for office visits to download data but also allow monitoring to ensure better compliance.
A total of 30 patients are currently participating in the trial and have reported no technical problems.
“Ensuring that patients properly manage their condition through nightly CPAP treatment is our main goal,” said Cody Parker, SleepQuest regional office manager. “Helping ResMed develop this wireless technology will benefit our patients by making CPAP treatment more comfortable and effective.”
ResMed selected SleepQuest, which provides home testing and treatment of sleep apnea, to participate in the trial because of its disease management approach to OSA and its patient therapy compliance rate of 90 percent, compared to the industry average of about 50 percent, according to the release.
Without continued support and encouragement, the company said, many patients stop treatment after a few weeks.
“We are always looking for ways to provide convenient treatment and follow-up care for our patients,” Parker said. “Immediate data transfer allows us to serve our patients more efficiently, saving them time and money.”