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Vest comparison
- Thread starter Gusto
- Start date
valshingle
New member
My daughter is 19, so I've had lots of experience with vests. I have to say that the Respirtech EnCourage system gets my vote hands down! My daughter also says that it's much more comfortable than the others that we've had (if a vest can be comfortable). The customer service is wonderful. A human being answers the phone and can access your info just from the patient's name. I've had one unit replaced (within days) and an extra vest sent when my daughter left hers at college over break (overnighted, total cost $60+).
valshingle
New member
My daughter is 19, so I've had lots of experience with vests. I have to say that the Respirtech EnCourage system gets my vote hands down! My daughter also says that it's much more comfortable than the others that we've had (if a vest can be comfortable). The customer service is wonderful. A human being answers the phone and can access your info just from the patient's name. I've had one unit replaced (within days) and an extra vest sent when my daughter left hers at college over break (overnighted, total cost $60+).
valshingle
New member
My daughter is 19, so I've had lots of experience with vests. I have to say that the Respirtech EnCourage system gets my vote hands down! My daughter also says that it's much more comfortable than the others that we've had (if a vest can be comfortable). The customer service is wonderful. A human being answers the phone and can access your info just from the patient's name. I've had one unit replaced (within days) and an extra vest sent when my daughter left hers at college over break (overnighted, total cost $60+).
I have not used the hill rom for a couple of years now, since it was replaced by my inCourage. I don't know what the new hill rom vests look like, but i found them uncomfortable around my breasts, since the jacket is cut very low - and the jacket was too short. This probably isn't an issue for a 2 year old, though =). I also didn't feel like I was getting an adequate treatment with that system for some reason, I can't explain it exactly....
Respirtech actually custom fit me for a jacket so it covers my entire torso, because I'm so long waisted - I feel like I'm getting more coverage. It does NOT bother my mickey button at all! The hoses are SO much nicer than the hill rom I had - just the fact they clamp is great. I even was able to do my vest treatments right after my lobectomy it was so comfortable.
Customer service is nice and fast - they had a replacement machine to me the next day when mine stopped working and picked up the old one as well.
One thing I will say, while the vest is GREAT for convenience, I would NOT discount the positive benefits of manual hand chest PT. I still have my husband pound me once a day and I get SO much more up when he does it. Overall, I do not think the vests are as effective as manual chest PT, so I personally would not recommend trading one for the other. If I had one regret - it would be not doing as much manual chest PT because I feel it really is much better than the vest.
Good luck!
Respirtech actually custom fit me for a jacket so it covers my entire torso, because I'm so long waisted - I feel like I'm getting more coverage. It does NOT bother my mickey button at all! The hoses are SO much nicer than the hill rom I had - just the fact they clamp is great. I even was able to do my vest treatments right after my lobectomy it was so comfortable.
Customer service is nice and fast - they had a replacement machine to me the next day when mine stopped working and picked up the old one as well.
One thing I will say, while the vest is GREAT for convenience, I would NOT discount the positive benefits of manual hand chest PT. I still have my husband pound me once a day and I get SO much more up when he does it. Overall, I do not think the vests are as effective as manual chest PT, so I personally would not recommend trading one for the other. If I had one regret - it would be not doing as much manual chest PT because I feel it really is much better than the vest.
Good luck!
I have not used the hill rom for a couple of years now, since it was replaced by my inCourage. I don't know what the new hill rom vests look like, but i found them uncomfortable around my breasts, since the jacket is cut very low - and the jacket was too short. This probably isn't an issue for a 2 year old, though =). I also didn't feel like I was getting an adequate treatment with that system for some reason, I can't explain it exactly....
Respirtech actually custom fit me for a jacket so it covers my entire torso, because I'm so long waisted - I feel like I'm getting more coverage. It does NOT bother my mickey button at all! The hoses are SO much nicer than the hill rom I had - just the fact they clamp is great. I even was able to do my vest treatments right after my lobectomy it was so comfortable.
Customer service is nice and fast - they had a replacement machine to me the next day when mine stopped working and picked up the old one as well.
One thing I will say, while the vest is GREAT for convenience, I would NOT discount the positive benefits of manual hand chest PT. I still have my husband pound me once a day and I get SO much more up when he does it. Overall, I do not think the vests are as effective as manual chest PT, so I personally would not recommend trading one for the other. If I had one regret - it would be not doing as much manual chest PT because I feel it really is much better than the vest.
Good luck!
Respirtech actually custom fit me for a jacket so it covers my entire torso, because I'm so long waisted - I feel like I'm getting more coverage. It does NOT bother my mickey button at all! The hoses are SO much nicer than the hill rom I had - just the fact they clamp is great. I even was able to do my vest treatments right after my lobectomy it was so comfortable.
Customer service is nice and fast - they had a replacement machine to me the next day when mine stopped working and picked up the old one as well.
One thing I will say, while the vest is GREAT for convenience, I would NOT discount the positive benefits of manual hand chest PT. I still have my husband pound me once a day and I get SO much more up when he does it. Overall, I do not think the vests are as effective as manual chest PT, so I personally would not recommend trading one for the other. If I had one regret - it would be not doing as much manual chest PT because I feel it really is much better than the vest.
Good luck!
I have not used the hill rom for a couple of years now, since it was replaced by my inCourage. I don't know what the new hill rom vests look like, but i found them uncomfortable around my breasts, since the jacket is cut very low - and the jacket was too short. This probably isn't an issue for a 2 year old, though =). I also didn't feel like I was getting an adequate treatment with that system for some reason, I can't explain it exactly....
<br />
<br />Respirtech actually custom fit me for a jacket so it covers my entire torso, because I'm so long waisted - I feel like I'm getting more coverage. It does NOT bother my mickey button at all! The hoses are SO much nicer than the hill rom I had - just the fact they clamp is great. I even was able to do my vest treatments right after my lobectomy it was so comfortable.
<br />
<br />Customer service is nice and fast - they had a replacement machine to me the next day when mine stopped working and picked up the old one as well.
<br />
<br />One thing I will say, while the vest is GREAT for convenience, I would NOT discount the positive benefits of manual hand chest PT. I still have my husband pound me once a day and I get SO much more up when he does it. Overall, I do not think the vests are as effective as manual chest PT, so I personally would not recommend trading one for the other. If I had one regret - it would be not doing as much manual chest PT because I feel it really is much better than the vest.
<br />
<br />Good luck!
<br />
<br />Respirtech actually custom fit me for a jacket so it covers my entire torso, because I'm so long waisted - I feel like I'm getting more coverage. It does NOT bother my mickey button at all! The hoses are SO much nicer than the hill rom I had - just the fact they clamp is great. I even was able to do my vest treatments right after my lobectomy it was so comfortable.
<br />
<br />Customer service is nice and fast - they had a replacement machine to me the next day when mine stopped working and picked up the old one as well.
<br />
<br />One thing I will say, while the vest is GREAT for convenience, I would NOT discount the positive benefits of manual hand chest PT. I still have my husband pound me once a day and I get SO much more up when he does it. Overall, I do not think the vests are as effective as manual chest PT, so I personally would not recommend trading one for the other. If I had one regret - it would be not doing as much manual chest PT because I feel it really is much better than the vest.
<br />
<br />Good luck!
markinohio
New member
For those of you who have had multiple vests, does your insurance pay for the different vests? I've had the HillRom Model 103 for many years and was told if I want a new machine, I would have to pay for it myself. I haven't checked in a few years so maybe things are different now. Plus, I'm sure different insurances have different policies about when to replace or upgrade equipment. The old one still works OK, just difficult to travel with.
Thanks.
Thanks.
markinohio
New member
For those of you who have had multiple vests, does your insurance pay for the different vests? I've had the HillRom Model 103 for many years and was told if I want a new machine, I would have to pay for it myself. I haven't checked in a few years so maybe things are different now. Plus, I'm sure different insurances have different policies about when to replace or upgrade equipment. The old one still works OK, just difficult to travel with.
Thanks.
Thanks.
markinohio
New member
For those of you who have had multiple vests, does your insurance pay for the different vests? I've had the HillRom Model 103 for many years and was told if I want a new machine, I would have to pay for it myself. I haven't checked in a few years so maybe things are different now. Plus, I'm sure different insurances have different policies about when to replace or upgrade equipment. The old one still works OK, just difficult to travel with.
<br />
<br />Thanks.
<br />
<br />Thanks.
mariahsmommy
New member
Our situation was that our secondary insurance (Arkansas Medicaid) denied the Smart Vest whereas it approved the Hill Rom. It just so happened that we like the Hill Rom so much better.
I would think if you have switched insurances since your machine was bought your new insurance company would pay for a new one.
If it is not a new insurance company that you still should have a yearly allowance for Durable Medical Equipment that could cover part of the cost and I know Smart Vest was going to let our insurance company pay it over several years.
And there is also financial assistance that Hill Rom will help you obtain.
I would think if you have switched insurances since your machine was bought your new insurance company would pay for a new one.
If it is not a new insurance company that you still should have a yearly allowance for Durable Medical Equipment that could cover part of the cost and I know Smart Vest was going to let our insurance company pay it over several years.
And there is also financial assistance that Hill Rom will help you obtain.
mariahsmommy
New member
Our situation was that our secondary insurance (Arkansas Medicaid) denied the Smart Vest whereas it approved the Hill Rom. It just so happened that we like the Hill Rom so much better.
I would think if you have switched insurances since your machine was bought your new insurance company would pay for a new one.
If it is not a new insurance company that you still should have a yearly allowance for Durable Medical Equipment that could cover part of the cost and I know Smart Vest was going to let our insurance company pay it over several years.
And there is also financial assistance that Hill Rom will help you obtain.
I would think if you have switched insurances since your machine was bought your new insurance company would pay for a new one.
If it is not a new insurance company that you still should have a yearly allowance for Durable Medical Equipment that could cover part of the cost and I know Smart Vest was going to let our insurance company pay it over several years.
And there is also financial assistance that Hill Rom will help you obtain.
mariahsmommy
New member
Our situation was that our secondary insurance (Arkansas Medicaid) denied the Smart Vest whereas it approved the Hill Rom. It just so happened that we like the Hill Rom so much better.
<br />I would think if you have switched insurances since your machine was bought your new insurance company would pay for a new one.
<br />If it is not a new insurance company that you still should have a yearly allowance for Durable Medical Equipment that could cover part of the cost and I know Smart Vest was going to let our insurance company pay it over several years.
<br />And there is also financial assistance that Hill Rom will help you obtain.
<br />I would think if you have switched insurances since your machine was bought your new insurance company would pay for a new one.
<br />If it is not a new insurance company that you still should have a yearly allowance for Durable Medical Equipment that could cover part of the cost and I know Smart Vest was going to let our insurance company pay it over several years.
<br />And there is also financial assistance that Hill Rom will help you obtain.
My insurance covered moving from the HilRom to the Respirtech - but I honestly cannot remember why they approved it - my mom worked at this company for 30 years, and then I worked for the same company....so maybe the insurance switched from me being covered as her dependent to my own? I can't remember.....I do remember when we moved from the OLD Hilrom on wheels to the one you could carry, they covered it as well b/c it was a portable, upgraded model for traveling.
Not sure if you can make that same argument for the 103 ---> another?
Not sure if you can make that same argument for the 103 ---> another?
My insurance covered moving from the HilRom to the Respirtech - but I honestly cannot remember why they approved it - my mom worked at this company for 30 years, and then I worked for the same company....so maybe the insurance switched from me being covered as her dependent to my own? I can't remember.....I do remember when we moved from the OLD Hilrom on wheels to the one you could carry, they covered it as well b/c it was a portable, upgraded model for traveling.
Not sure if you can make that same argument for the 103 ---> another?
Not sure if you can make that same argument for the 103 ---> another?
My insurance covered moving from the HilRom to the Respirtech - but I honestly cannot remember why they approved it - my mom worked at this company for 30 years, and then I worked for the same company....so maybe the insurance switched from me being covered as her dependent to my own? I can't remember.....I do remember when we moved from the OLD Hilrom on wheels to the one you could carry, they covered it as well b/c it was a portable, upgraded model for traveling.
<br />
<br />Not sure if you can make that same argument for the 103 ---> another?
<br />
<br />Not sure if you can make that same argument for the 103 ---> another?
valshingle
New member
I was told that the insurance company would pay for a new vest every 10-12 years (can't remember the exact figure they gave me). I'm sure it depends on each insurance company. We switched from the Hill Rom to EnCourage when our insurance allowed us to get a new vest. We still have the Hill Rom and use it as a back-up if needed.
valshingle
New member
I was told that the insurance company would pay for a new vest every 10-12 years (can't remember the exact figure they gave me). I'm sure it depends on each insurance company. We switched from the Hill Rom to EnCourage when our insurance allowed us to get a new vest. We still have the Hill Rom and use it as a back-up if needed.
valshingle
New member
I was told that the insurance company would pay for a new vest every 10-12 years (can't remember the exact figure they gave me). I'm sure it depends on each insurance company. We switched from the Hill Rom to EnCourage when our insurance allowed us to get a new vest. We still have the Hill Rom and use it as a back-up if needed.