Patient-to-Physician Information Packet

The following information about The Vest® Airway Clearance System is intended for physicians and other clinicians. This material may be conveniently downloaded and printed so that you may offer it to your healthcare professional at your next medical appointment.

Download this information to take to your physician

This information is in Adobe Acrobat® format. If you don't already have it, you need to download the Adobe Acrobat reader to view this information.

Information for Physicians

About The Vest® Airway Clearance System

This information packet will acquaint you with basic facts about The Vest® Airway Clearance System. It is intended to help you select the most appropriate and effective method for your patients who need Airway Clearance Therapy. Please take a few moments to look over the material. We understand that your time is limited, and invite you contact us (please note that we provide 24/7 customer service):

Contact Information

Prescriptions and general information:

Phone: 800-426-4224 or 651-490-1468 - ask for Account Services

Clinical applications, technical and clinical research:

Phone: 800-426-4224 or 651-490-1468 - ask for Clinical Information Group

General support questions:

Phone: 800-426-4224 or 651-490-1468
Internet: http://www.thevest.com (Internet inquiries are generally handled within 24 hours of receipt.)

What is The Vest® System?

The Vest® Airway Clearance System consists of an inflatable vest connected by Air Hoses to an Air Pulse Generator. The Air Pulse Generator rapidly inflates and deflates the inflatable vest, gently compressing and releasing the chest wall up to 25 times per second. This technology is called High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO).

The Vest® System is complemented by our:

Personalized training
Therapy adherence monitoring
Reimbursement services
Limited Lifetime Warranty (USA)

How does The Vest® System work?

The Vest® System, using HFCWO, generates increased airflow velocities that create repetitive cough-like shear forces in the lungs and decrease the viscosity of secretions. These effects move mucus toward the larger airways, where it can be cleared by coughing or suctioning. HFCWO is associated with improved pulmonary functions and reduced costs for patients, insurance payers and hospitals.

What risk factors are indications for Airway Clearance Therapy?

The need for airway clearance is not disease-specific, but may arise from a variety of risk factors that impair normal secretion clearance, including:

Recurrent respiratory infections
Mucus plugging and atelectasis
Hyperproduction of secretions
Abnormally thick, sticky secretions
Ineffective cough
Respiratory muscle weakness
Increased risk for aspiration
Immobility
Artificial airway
Indications for Therapy

What are some of the diseases and conditions for which The Vest® System is prescribed?

In cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, or bronchiectasis, secretion clearance therapy is an established standard of care. However, in conditions other than primary disorders of the mucociliary system, Airway Clearance Therapy is generally prescribed when an individual patient's pulmonary health is compromised by adverse events arising from one or more risk factors. The Vest® System has been prescribed for airway clearance therapy for patients with health complications associated with more than 600 diseases and conditions. These include:

Cystic fibrosis (CF)
Asthma
Bronchiectasis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Cerebral palsy (CP)
Muscular dystrophy (MD)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)
Spinal cord injury
Post-lung transplantation
Reactive airway disease from such conditions as Down syndrome
Ventilator dependence, and a variety of other conditions affecting pulmonary function

Conditions that can complicate airway clearance include ineffective ciliary clearance, excessive secretions, thick secretions, ineffective cough, restrictive lung disease, immobility, and dysphagia / aspiration / gastroesophageal reflux.

How many physicians have prescribed The Vest® System?

The Vest® System is widely accepted:

Prescribed by more than 14,000 physicians
Used by more than 80,000 patients
Used by more than 2,400 hospitals (both on general floors and ICUs)
Accepted by payers nationwide

What clinical outcomes information is available?

HFCWO has been studied extensively. Safety and efficacy are established by more than 80 clinical trials conducted at over 60 research institutions.

Peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that HFCWO clears mucus and helps improve or maintain pulmonary functions more effectively than conventional chest physiotherapy (CPT).

HFCWO, the technology behind The Vest® System, is associated with:

Superior secretion clearance
Improved exercise tolerance
High patient satisfaction and therapy adherence
Reduced healthcare costs

What are other advantages of prescribing The Vest® System?

In-home training is provided — Hill-Rom has a team of healthcare professionals throughout the United States that provides comprehensive, in-home training to new users of The Vest® System. In-home training is provided in most cases. In those locations where coverage is not possible, phone training is provided.
It provides consistent therapy — The Vest® System provides consistently reliable treatments, treating all segments of the lungs simultaneously.
The Vest® System encourages treatment adherence — The Vest® System is not technique dependent and for most users requires little or no assistance. The Vest® System offers greater independence and eases the burden of care for families and caregivers alike. Treatments are brief, permit concurrent use of aerosolized medications, and by virtue of their simplicity, encourage treatment adherence.
Patient adherence is monitored and the results are shared with you — The Air Pulse Generator displays the total number of hours that the device has been used to monitor patient adherence. Hourly usage is recorded and adherence results are shared with you.
Hill-Rom handles the insurance reimbursement process — Hill-Rom provides reimbursement specialists to:
- Compile and submit all documents
- Assist with Appeals
- Follow through to help resolve insurance issues