OAT Calibration in a COVID-19 World

I have been utilizing level 3 Home Sleep Tests (HST) to help optimize Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) since 2005. This has definitely upped my Clinical Game, as relying on Subjective patient feedback alone often leaves your appliance under calibrated. However, the COVID-19 Pandemic changes everything, at least for the time being...

It doesn’t get more personal than taking a device to your bedroom to sleep with, and some patients may have difficulty due to concerns of being exposed to COVID-19. Of course, HST’s are carefully sanitized between patients and all consumables are one-time-use, so this fear is unfounded, and the valuable information regarding sleep position and respiratory effort in each position is something I have come to rely on to optimize Oral Appliance (OA) calibration.

Nevertheless, in a COVID-19 world, where we are all trying to minimize patient contact without compromising quality, use of a novel technology can be the answer. The CIRCUL is a High-Resolution Pulse Oximeter that provides Oximetry, Pulse Rate and a Histogram... all in a ring worn on your finger, and documents data by communicating to the cloud through Bluetooth and a smart phone or Tablet. Even George Jetson would be impressed!

Imagine dispensing an OA to a patient, providing instruction on home calibration along with a CIRCUL device, and then remotely monitoring progress from your Smart Phone, Tablet or Computer on a daily basis; making clinical decisions from the patient’s data and then advising the patient accordingly by TeleDentistry, phone or email. You can Objectively analyse various jaw positions, supine vs non supine sleep, with or without elastics to maintain jaw closure or any other variable you wish; without the need for the patient to attend for an appointment. This, we refer to as Remote Patient Monitoring... does this sound like a protocol you would be interested in during a COVID-19 Pandemic?

Let’s make this concept even more appealing for those of you in the USA; The Pricing, Data Analysis, and Coding (PDAC) Contractor has reviewed the CIRCUL SLEEP & FITNESS RING and has approved the listed Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code(s) for billing the four Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs). For those of you interested in billing Medicare for Remote Patient Monitoring with the CIRCUL, I recommend that you consult with Jeff Wyscarver RPSGT first. He has been involved in developing this concept using the CIRCUL at the grass root level, and you definitely want to ensure that you are using the codes properly.

Learn more from our Bye Corona! Webinar on the CIRCUL: Speaker Jeff Wyscarver

https://youtu.be/nkdAWhLAKHw

Or watch a DENTAL5LEEP in FIVE Episode on the CIRCUL: Speaker John Viviano

https://youtu.be/etRV9AJT4dI

After watching these, you may be interested in trying one out. Here is information on where to order one...

FOR USA: Order Circul on Bodimetrics website at the link:  Order USA CIRCUL Here ... Type in “Wellness” as coupon for a 10% discount

FOR CANADA: Order Circul on Healthinabox website at the link: Order CDN CIRCUL Here ... Type in “WebSDD10” as coupon for a 10% discount

This is what I find so exciting about Dental Sleep Medicine... a constant evolution of appliances, devices, technologies and protocols keeps it fresh and keeps improving what we have to offer our patients. Stay Safe as you all return to your practices!

Cheers,

John

John Viviano DDS D ABDSM

SDDacademy.com

SleepDisordersDentistry.com

SleepDisordersDentistry LinkedIn Group

Facility Accredited by American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine