U-Sleep simplifies compliance

HALIFAX, N.S. - A new software program called U-Sleep allows HME providers to obtain and manage compliance data from any of the major CPAP devices using one web-based, HIPAA-compliant tool.

U-Sleep can obtain data from Philips Respironics, DeVilbiss, Fisher & Paykel and ResMed devices, which all communicate differently, says Raj Sodhi, president of Umbian, the company behind U-Sleep.

"DME providers have several major manufacturers to manage, requiring them to switch between one and the other, trying to normalize the information," he said. "We take that step out."

U-Sleep, which launched in January, also allows providers to: define and apply rules to set compliance standards; notify patients via phone, text or email if they've violated rules; and view reports and charts on both a patient and company level.

CPAP manufacturers have solutions that allow providers to do some of this, but none have the automation and robustness of U-Sleep, Sodhi said.

"They're all based on therapy times or one or two metrics--they couldn't be based on 15 metrics," he said. "We compliment their solutions. We take their data and run our program on top of it."

By embracing U-Sleep, manufacturers boost the data mining and reporting capabilities of their devices, making them more attractive to providers, says Robin Randolph, marketing manager, North America, at Fisher & Paykel.

"We've all been working toward this level of sophistication, but no one has accomplished it yet," she said. "The more ways you can provide data easily, the better."

Umbian charges providers, based on volume, a one-time set-up fee per patient, plus a monthly access fee.

In the near future, Umbian plans to expand U-Sleep by allowing access via mobile apps, and to extend the company's reach into other markets, like diabetes, Sodhi said.