Comments on: Sleep Apnea and Truck Drivers http://truckingblog.net/sleep-apnea-and-truck-drivers/ The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:13:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: mike http://truckingblog.net/sleep-apnea-and-truck-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-771 mike Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:25:32 +0000 http://truckingblog.net/?p=74#comment-771 Being tested negitive or if I was treating my Apnea, would my or the trucking firms insurance rates be reduced? If so any idea on how much? (%) thanks for any thoughts. Being tested negitive or if I was treating my Apnea, would my or the trucking firms insurance rates be reduced? If so any idea on how much? (%) thanks for any thoughts.

]]> By: stop sleep apnea http://truckingblog.net/sleep-apnea-and-truck-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-717 stop sleep apnea Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:05:43 +0000 http://truckingblog.net/?p=74#comment-717 Terrific information. I'm sure most of the public is unaware of how bad sleep apnea is in some truckers. I was shocked at the 28% figure. Great comment, Colleen, about Professional Drivers Medical Depots. It's good to know someone is trying to come up with a solution to help truck drivers <a href="http://www.stop-sleep-apnea.info" rel="nofollow">stop sleep apnea</a>. Terrific information. I’m sure most of the public is unaware of how bad sleep apnea is in some truckers. I was shocked at the 28% figure.

Great comment, Colleen, about Professional Drivers Medical Depots. It’s good to know someone is trying to come up with a solution to help truck drivers stop sleep apnea.

]]> By: Vern http://truckingblog.net/sleep-apnea-and-truck-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-589 Vern Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:39:06 +0000 http://truckingblog.net/?p=74#comment-589 Due to the portability and efficacy of <a href="http://www.cpapmachines.net" rel="nofollow">CPAP equipment</a>, it shouldn't matter at all that a trucker might have apnea. It's quite treatable and, though truck drivers do need to be alert and attentive, there's no reason to think that they'd be incapable of driving safely with the proper medical care. Due to the portability and efficacy of CPAP equipment, it shouldn’t matter at all that a trucker might have apnea. It’s quite treatable and, though truck drivers do need to be alert and attentive, there’s no reason to think that they’d be incapable of driving safely with the proper medical care.

]]> By: Colleen http://truckingblog.net/sleep-apnea-and-truck-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-577 Colleen Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:48:01 +0000 http://truckingblog.net/?p=74#comment-577 I work for a medical magazine and we just did a story about truckers and the need for sleep testing. PDMD is doing some great things for truckers: John McElligott, MD, had the same concerns in mind when he founded Professional Drivers Medical Depots (PDMD), Knoxville, Tenn. After working with truckers for years at his private practice in Tennessee, Dr. McElligott discovered that access and affordability were their biggest obstacles to medical care. Since truckers drive an average of 125,000 miles a year, Dr. McElligott decided to bring the care to them by launching a chain of clinics in travel centers. "We try to act as a portal into the health care system. We network with the local community at every location," said Jeffrey R. Miller, PDMD's president and chief executive officer. In addition to other medical services, they screen for OSA and work with local sleep facilities to get full sleep studies when necessary. PDMD ensures each sleep facility has the means to accommodate the truckers' needs. If they do not have a parking lot large enough to fit 18-wheelers, the facilities must provide transportation for the drivers. They also must ensure quick patient turnaround. Drivers only have 34 hours off the clock, so they need to get tested, diagnosed, and out the door with a CPAP in that time. Because an estimated one-third of truck drivers have no medical insurance, they need care at an affordable price. While PDMD works with local providers to get truckers the best cash price, they also have come up with a new solution. In early April, the company launched a medical insurance program for professional drivers, offering limited-benefit medical plans less than $150 a month for a single driver. So far, PDMD's four locations have provided hundreds of truckers with essential medical attention. They hope to continue that trend with 11 more locations by the end of this year and eventually a total of 80 clinics across the U.S. "Whatever they need, we want them to know that if they stop at PDMD that we're not going to stop until they're taken care of," Miller said. I work for a medical magazine and we just did a story about truckers and the need for sleep testing. PDMD is doing some great things for truckers:

John McElligott, MD, had the same concerns in mind when he founded Professional Drivers Medical Depots (PDMD), Knoxville, Tenn. After working with truckers for years at his private practice in Tennessee, Dr. McElligott discovered that access and affordability were their biggest obstacles to medical care.

Since truckers drive an average of 125,000 miles a year, Dr. McElligott decided to bring the care to them by launching a chain of clinics in travel centers.

“We try to act as a portal into the health care system. We network with the local community at every location,” said Jeffrey R. Miller, PDMD’s president and chief executive officer. In addition to other medical services, they screen for OSA and work with local sleep facilities to get full sleep studies when necessary.

PDMD ensures each sleep facility has the means to accommodate the truckers’ needs. If they do not have a parking lot large enough to fit 18-wheelers, the facilities must provide transportation for the drivers. They also must ensure quick patient turnaround. Drivers only have 34 hours off the clock, so they need to get tested, diagnosed, and out the door with a CPAP in that time.

Because an estimated one-third of truck drivers have no medical insurance, they need care at an affordable price. While PDMD works with local providers to get truckers the best cash price, they also have come up with a new solution. In early April, the company launched a medical insurance program for professional drivers, offering limited-benefit medical plans less than $150 a month for a single driver.

So far, PDMD’s four locations have provided hundreds of truckers with essential medical attention. They hope to continue that trend with 11 more locations by the end of this year and eventually a total of 80 clinics across the U.S.

“Whatever they need, we want them to know that if they stop at PDMD that we’re not going to stop until they’re taken care of,” Miller said.

]]> By: cpap machine http://truckingblog.net/sleep-apnea-and-truck-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-56 cpap machine Thu, 10 Nov 2005 23:14:58 +0000 http://truckingblog.net/?p=74#comment-56 I was just wodnering on where to buy my <a href="http://www.apneatherapy.com" rel="nofollow">cpap</a>. Any suggestions? I was just wodnering on where to buy my cpap. Any suggestions?

]]> By: chris howard http://truckingblog.net/sleep-apnea-and-truck-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-55 chris howard Tue, 17 May 2005 17:04:08 +0000 http://truckingblog.net/?p=74#comment-55 great post! I'm actually a sleep tech who is going into trucking in august. (career change) Sleep apnea nearly always is treatable. I suffer from it myself and by appearence seem to be off the norm. I weigh 175 and stand 5' 7" so at a glance you wouldn't think there would be a problem. That said many people could have sleep apnea who are not overweight and who do not snore. Some things to look for is, morning headaches (low oxygen saturations from apneas) Very sore throat after sleep (snoring) Not feeling refreshed after sleep (lack of REM sleep) I never new the difference from just being tired from work and the feeling of total exhaustion from lack of sleep untill i got my cpap machine. In two weeks after starting therapy I was more productive and never needed to take a daytime nap. If anyone needs more information on sleep studys and sleep apnea I have many pamphlets and research items that i could send you. I won't be starting with TMC transport until august so I should have any info you need. thanks Chris jackalchoppers@yahoo.com great post! I’m actually a sleep tech who is going into trucking in august. (career change) Sleep apnea nearly always is treatable. I suffer from it myself and by appearence seem to be off the norm. I weigh 175 and stand 5′ 7″ so at a glance you wouldn’t think there would be a problem. That said many people could have sleep apnea who are not overweight and who do not snore. Some things to look for is, morning headaches (low oxygen saturations from apneas) Very sore throat after sleep (snoring) Not feeling refreshed after sleep (lack of REM sleep)
I never new the difference from just being tired from work and the feeling of total exhaustion from lack of sleep untill i got my cpap machine. In two weeks after starting therapy I was more productive and never needed to take a daytime nap. If anyone needs more information on sleep studys and sleep apnea I have many pamphlets and research items that i could send you. I won’t be starting with TMC transport until august so I should have any info you need.
thanks Chris
jackalchoppers@yahoo.com

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