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Donation bolsters patient care

Thanks to a donation of $16,300 from the TB Vets Charitable Foundation, respiratory patients in the North Okanagan can breathe easier
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Thanks to a donation of $16,300 from the TB Vets Charitable Foundation, respiratory patients in the North Okanagan can breathe easier.

The donation to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation was used to purchase a high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) generator and vests for the treatment and therapy of people with compromised airway clearance.

“We are very thankful for the generosity of TB Vets for funding this vital piece of equipment for Vernon Jubilee Hospital,” said Sue Beaudry, VJHF director of development.

HFCWO consists of a vest with an inflatable bladder, a pulse generator, and hose connecting the vest to the generator. Patients are fitted with a vest or wrap, then the Theravest machine delivers rapidly repeating pulses of air that squeeze and release the chest wall. This oscillation dislodges mucus from the bronchial walls, thins mucus, and helps to mobilize secretions up the airways to where they can be coughed or suctioned out.

“We try to get patients to use patient-controlled handheld devices first, but for those patients who are to acutely ill or chronically sick the Theravest does the work for them,” said Michael MacAulay, cardiopulmonary professional practice lead at VJH.

This therapy is used primarily with adults although the system is used for some pediatric patients who have an ineffective cough or poor secretion clearance. Moderate to severe patient conditions that may benefit from the Theravest include cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, atelectasis, aspiration, chronic bronchitis, muscular dystrophies and myopathies and quadriplegic patients.=