IVS ready to promote VOCSN

NORWOOD, Mass. - The people behind the new company Integrated Vent Solutions say multi-function ventilator technology is a game changer.

IVS will serve as the exclusive distributor of the VOCSN, a portable device that combines a ventilator, oxygen concentrator, cough assist, suction and nebulizer into one unified system,in New England.

“The VOCSN is probably the most exciting development in the ventilator space in 20 years,” said Eric Mongeau, managing director of IVS.

The VOCSN, manufactured by Ventec Life Systems, received FDA 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017.

IVS believes the VOCSN, which can be configured for a mix of therapies, will be mostly used to treat patients with ALS and other neuromuscular diseases, as well as COPD patients who need both a vent and a cough assist device.

“Many times when patients are transitioning from the hospital, they are being set up, if you will, with an ICU bed in a home setting,” said Bob Nelson, director of sales. “Rather than having separate devices all requiring their own power supply, this is integrated into one device.”

Possibly paving the way for wider adoption of the VOCSN: In July, CMS proposed establishing fee schedule amounts for multi-function vents based on the current Medicare fee schedule for vents, plus an additional amount for the average cost of the additional functions or features, beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

“There are a lot of questions around how it will be reimbursed and how those calculations will be made,” Mongeau said.“I think it sounds very positive in creating an economic solution around the product.”

Mongeau, who also serves as vice president of sales and marketing for Reliable Respiratory, says he plans to leverage the relationships and experience he's built in the respiratory market to introduce the VOCSN to homecare providers, nursing facilities and healthcare systems.

“I want to get us into the place where we want to move this product and drive the awareness as rapidly as we can,” he said. “We're very excited.”