Umbian, a provider of cloud-based healthcare compliance solutions, has reported the outcome of a new study, which demonstrated that its U-Sleep automated messaging system reduces coaching labor and improves compliance among sleep apnea patients.
The company has presented the study outcome at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2014 International Conference in San Diego.
The new study showed significant, measurable efficiency gains when using the automated messaging capabilities of the company’s U-Sleep compliance management solution.
This study reveals a 59% reduction in labor associated with intervening with and coaching patients on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy when using U-Sleep.
Umbian’s new study was designed to compare the effectiveness and coaching labor requirements of a web-based, automated messaging (via U-Sleep) with standard-of-care CPAP adherence coaching, and measure the coaching labor necessary to achieve Medicare-defined adherence.
U-Sleep is a secure and flexible compliance solution that monitors CPAP device usage and helps HMEs coach and manage their patients during therapy.
Researchers have conducted a multi-center, prospective trial of patients newly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea to evaluate the effect of automated messaging on coaching labor and patient adherence.
The three-month study follow-up included a total of 122 patients, with 58 in the U-Sleep arm and 64 in the standard-of-care arm.
Patients in both groups were set up on a CPAP device with heated humidification and a ResMed wireless modem. These patients received identical CPAP education and orientation.
According to Umbian, the U-Sleep arm received an automated series of text messages and/or emails triggered by one of five situations that indicated non-compliance, such as no CPAP data for two consecutive days or CPAP usage of less than four hours for three consecutive nights.
The standard-of-care arm received scheduled telephone calls on days one, seven, 14, and 30.
Umbian president Raj Sodhi said that this is an opportunity for home medical equipment (HME) providers to redesign the way they interact with patients to improve efficiency, and therefore their bottom line.
"Every HME is under pressure to minimize the costs associated with gaining compliance, and these findings show that U-Sleep’s automated messaging can help significantly," Sodhi added.
Image: U-Sleep compliance management solution has been shown to reduce adherence coaching labor by 59%. Photo: Courtesy of PRNewswire/ Umbian Inc.