Vest Companies -- Who is the best?

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Alyssa

New member
We are "trying" out different companies and want to make sure we get the best product with the best customer service after the sale since this is supposed to be a "life time" purchase I want to make sure we get our vest with the best company.

We have tried the MedPulse brand recommended by our clinic -- machine seemed large and we didn't like the portability/packaging -- no place for tube and vest.

We currently have The Vest, by Hill-Rom in the house for 30 days -- great for portability, small and we like the bag for everything -- drawbacks seem to be the tubes seem stiff and also pop off from time to time. I have heard very good things about the customer service from this company and feel like they are very reputable and will be there when we need them.

Someone here already made reference to the RespirTech company -- tubes snap in place and she thought the vest felt better -- but I don't know anything about the company -- been around for a long time? Will they still be in business 10 years from now?

Just found another company (Electromed) The SmartVest -- looks like they are the same company as MedPulse but are making a different product than what we tried -- so is this a merger of companies?

Any advice about your experience with these products or companies would be helpful.
 
A

Alyssa

New member
We are "trying" out different companies and want to make sure we get the best product with the best customer service after the sale since this is supposed to be a "life time" purchase I want to make sure we get our vest with the best company.

We have tried the MedPulse brand recommended by our clinic -- machine seemed large and we didn't like the portability/packaging -- no place for tube and vest.

We currently have The Vest, by Hill-Rom in the house for 30 days -- great for portability, small and we like the bag for everything -- drawbacks seem to be the tubes seem stiff and also pop off from time to time. I have heard very good things about the customer service from this company and feel like they are very reputable and will be there when we need them.

Someone here already made reference to the RespirTech company -- tubes snap in place and she thought the vest felt better -- but I don't know anything about the company -- been around for a long time? Will they still be in business 10 years from now?

Just found another company (Electromed) The SmartVest -- looks like they are the same company as MedPulse but are making a different product than what we tried -- so is this a merger of companies?

Any advice about your experience with these products or companies would be helpful.
 
C

CowTown

New member
I have the new small Vest, by Hill-Rom and like it. Yes the tubes pop off from time to time, but I just plug them back in. The tubes are a little stiff too but they haven't bothered me. I like their customer service and really like the portability of it with the duffle bag. I've had this one for about 6 months and since it's a digital machine, the computer chip started acting up a few weeks ago. The vest stopped working all of a sudden and the display screen said to call the service people, so I did. They shipped out a whole new machine to me within 5 days and picked up the old one. No questions asked and they were quick about it. I only have experience with that company.
 
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CowTown

New member
I have the new small Vest, by Hill-Rom and like it. Yes the tubes pop off from time to time, but I just plug them back in. The tubes are a little stiff too but they haven't bothered me. I like their customer service and really like the portability of it with the duffle bag. I've had this one for about 6 months and since it's a digital machine, the computer chip started acting up a few weeks ago. The vest stopped working all of a sudden and the display screen said to call the service people, so I did. They shipped out a whole new machine to me within 5 days and picked up the old one. No questions asked and they were quick about it. I only have experience with that company.
 
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Chaggie

New member
I have no experience with other companies, but respirtech customer
service is great, one of the buttons stopped working and they had
new one to me the next day.  It's also pretty lightweight and
has nice carrying case that has a place for everything.
 
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Lance2020x

New member
I have the HUGE machine, made by... I believe it's just called
VestFlow, or FlowVest. The machine is gigantic, but the customer
service is truly amazing. I've had two parts mess up in the past...
probably 8 years, and they instantly over nighted new parts.<br>
<br>
My brother has a SmartVest (he's using it right now). He just got
it and seems to be very happy with it.<br>
Honestly, I'm a little jealous because not only does his SmartVest
only have one tube, but the machine is half the size of mine and
about a quarter the weight. PLUS, his machine (SmartVest) has a
timer that runs the machine. In other words, unlike the FlowVest
there is no pedal that you have to push. He just puts the timer on
what ever time he wants and he can even sit cross legged to do it.
 
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anonymous

New member
My children us the vest by hillrom the tubes do pop off when they wiggle alot but they just put it back on and they seem fine with it . I have had one of my tubes break and called cutomer service and they sent me some new ones right away they were really nice. We got the larger model at first but they let us switch out the old model for the new one when it came out. I liked that. We have not tried any other one at this time. My kids are 9 and 5. I also have a little 2 yr old without cf.
Jeanine
 
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Alyssa

New member
Funny this would pop up again just now -- I just replied to someone elses post asking about the medpulse :)

We went with the Hill-Rom just because so many people said they had great customer service. We are currently fighting with the insurance company for coverage -- Hill-Rom was "shocked" that it was denied -- we have beefed up the appeal info and hopefully it will go through this time.
 
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Debi

New member
I've had a hillrom vest for 10 years. Over the past two years I have gained enough weight that I needed a larger vest. When I called to ask how much a new one would cost, they said nothing, and sent me a new one for free. They also asked if I could use new tubes, and I said the old ones weren't broken. When they found out the old ones were ten years old they said they'd throw in a new set of tubes also. So, even though it was no fault of theirs that I needed a new vest, they didn't charge me. Great customer service.

Debi
 
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BaylorCrew07

New member
Respirtech service and actually vest is outstanding...I would reccommend them to anyone. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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Alyssa

New member
Thanks for the information!

Do you mind if I copy your reply to my blog page so it will always be available for everyone?

We are still fighting the appeal with our insurance company -- don't know if we will get to keep the Hill-Rom vest or not.
 
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Alyssa

New member
Thanks for the information!

Do you mind if I copy your reply to my blog page so it will always be available for everyone?

We are still fighting the appeal with our insurance company -- don't know if we will get to keep the Hill-Rom vest or not.
 
A

Alyssa

New member
Thanks for the information!

Do you mind if I copy your reply to my blog page so it will always be available for everyone?

We are still fighting the appeal with our insurance company -- don't know if we will get to keep the Hill-Rom vest or not.
 
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Scarlett81

New member
ThAIRapy Vest by American Biosystems. I'm surprised, I didn't see anyone else that had this one, unless it has a different name?
I've had it for 12 yrs at least. Still going strong-it works well, but its so stinkin big. Very hard to transport.
 
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Scarlett81

New member
ThAIRapy Vest by American Biosystems. I'm surprised, I didn't see anyone else that had this one, unless it has a different name?
I've had it for 12 yrs at least. Still going strong-it works well, but its so stinkin big. Very hard to transport.
 
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