that the manufacturer of the Protime machine, ITC, and its distributor, QAS, get actively involved in the problems that people here and hundreds of others nationwide have with getting approval for THEIR machine. If ITC and QAS want their fair market share of the potential $100million or more that is available in this market, (according to ITC's President and chief executive officer, Kieth Grossman) I would suggest that they not only advocate for those of us who have difficulties, but that they indeed lobby for accepteance of THEIR product.
My husband has the ProTime, and we had to fight to get it and continue to fight to keep it. We are dedicated to the need for point-of-care testing, home-testing, but the obstacles against the Protime mount and there is little support from ITC or QAS. To say that "I have a lot of studies about out device, or technical reports" does not but it. When one of us needs help, we can not depend on ITC or QAS to do more than give us article, after article. I have all the articles from QAS and all of the rationale from ITC, such as, "Well, there are differences, but you are still in your range," etc.
I would wager that there isn't a person here who does not know that home testing has benefits, such as quality of life, in range more often, less complications, etc. I can send my doctor articles about 70,000 German people in a trial study, and I can also send him results from a symposium of outstanding cardiovascular surgeons from Harvard and Ceders Sini who espouse the vaues of home-testing. Yet, it boils down to the validity (does it do what it is supposed to do) and reliability ( does it do it over and over) of the ProTime machine. My doctor's reply to the 70,000 Germans was, "Well, they are not using the machine you have."
There are several reasons for reluctance among medical professionals and insurance companies when it comes to home-testing. Convention is one. They are used to using a lab. We can argue the problems with labs forever, but that will not convince anyone. Another issue is familiarity. They just have not had experiences with home-testing. But, when they put up the results of the lab against a monitor and those results differ, we , you and I are left naked, barefoot, and alone to explain them. We all know what to say, but, when push comes to shove, it boils down to one individual person defending and advocating the product. The bottom line for me is that it as individuals we can not pervail. We need the active support of ITC and QAS. They need to get out there and do their job which is to show how their product meets validity and reliability standards. Marketing people, live Brian and Lance won't cut it. What is needed is the research people are ITC who are researchers and medical people.
Now, this is where whe stand. We believe in the ProTime system...we paid for it out of our pocket and he fight to keep it.
However, Coagucheck has the corner on the market. All of the coagulation clinics in our area use it. The 70,000 Germans are using Coagucheck monitors. And, my doctor is quick to tell me that. ITC and QAS seem to be willing to accept what ever comes their way easy. For us, the solution is becoming clear.....Get a Coagucheck. It's accepted in my area because the leading hospitals and the leading cardio guys use it in their clinics.
The Problem here is the ITC and QAS talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk. They are willing to accept that which comes their way easily. But they, don't support those who have problems. "I have a lot of studies"(Lance). Having and doing are not the same thing. Appears that they are willing to accept what ever falls into their net from the $100 million or more...
My position may make me as popular as a skunk on a hayride, but I maintain that those of us who want the ProTime are on our own, for all intents and purposes. That's not the way it should be. Please remember if you wish to dismember me because I have raised questions about the role of the company and the distributor, that my husband tests weekly on the ProTime.
Kind Regards,
Blanche
My husband has the ProTime, and we had to fight to get it and continue to fight to keep it. We are dedicated to the need for point-of-care testing, home-testing, but the obstacles against the Protime mount and there is little support from ITC or QAS. To say that "I have a lot of studies about out device, or technical reports" does not but it. When one of us needs help, we can not depend on ITC or QAS to do more than give us article, after article. I have all the articles from QAS and all of the rationale from ITC, such as, "Well, there are differences, but you are still in your range," etc.
I would wager that there isn't a person here who does not know that home testing has benefits, such as quality of life, in range more often, less complications, etc. I can send my doctor articles about 70,000 German people in a trial study, and I can also send him results from a symposium of outstanding cardiovascular surgeons from Harvard and Ceders Sini who espouse the vaues of home-testing. Yet, it boils down to the validity (does it do what it is supposed to do) and reliability ( does it do it over and over) of the ProTime machine. My doctor's reply to the 70,000 Germans was, "Well, they are not using the machine you have."
There are several reasons for reluctance among medical professionals and insurance companies when it comes to home-testing. Convention is one. They are used to using a lab. We can argue the problems with labs forever, but that will not convince anyone. Another issue is familiarity. They just have not had experiences with home-testing. But, when they put up the results of the lab against a monitor and those results differ, we , you and I are left naked, barefoot, and alone to explain them. We all know what to say, but, when push comes to shove, it boils down to one individual person defending and advocating the product. The bottom line for me is that it as individuals we can not pervail. We need the active support of ITC and QAS. They need to get out there and do their job which is to show how their product meets validity and reliability standards. Marketing people, live Brian and Lance won't cut it. What is needed is the research people are ITC who are researchers and medical people.
Now, this is where whe stand. We believe in the ProTime system...we paid for it out of our pocket and he fight to keep it.
However, Coagucheck has the corner on the market. All of the coagulation clinics in our area use it. The 70,000 Germans are using Coagucheck monitors. And, my doctor is quick to tell me that. ITC and QAS seem to be willing to accept what ever comes their way easy. For us, the solution is becoming clear.....Get a Coagucheck. It's accepted in my area because the leading hospitals and the leading cardio guys use it in their clinics.
The Problem here is the ITC and QAS talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk. They are willing to accept that which comes their way easily. But they, don't support those who have problems. "I have a lot of studies"(Lance). Having and doing are not the same thing. Appears that they are willing to accept what ever falls into their net from the $100 million or more...
My position may make me as popular as a skunk on a hayride, but I maintain that those of us who want the ProTime are on our own, for all intents and purposes. That's not the way it should be. Please remember if you wish to dismember me because I have raised questions about the role of the company and the distributor, that my husband tests weekly on the ProTime.
Kind Regards,
Blanche
