Wound Vac Company and Issues

lsyorke, RN · May 13, 2007

I was recently using a VAC on my husbands heel.(I also work in wound care) Besides the fact that he hated it.....The company was obnoxious to deal with. Accusatory phone calls when we had to interrupt use of the VAC(due to maceration issues). "You have to use it without breaks". They questioned everything that we did. I finally called for them to pick up the VAC..3 weeks later they picked it up, and then I get a call 2 weeks later for wound measurements. They had been charging my insurance for those 5 weeks.

I've seen the VAC do some amazing things, but it's not for everyone.

Cafepharma is an anonymous posting site. Take it with a grain of salt.

colter517 · May 15, 2007

Wound nurse here, just was wondering if you were all please with the wound vac company KCI. I been having some issues with the reps as well as the consultants. Maybe its just in my area, they are hard to deal with, I know they are having some issues internally, I check out this other board about pharm reps, http://www.cafepharma.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=257 it seems like the KCI workers are very upset. Sad, it is really affecting patient outcomes due to delays in service. Sometimes they dont even show up. I am also having difficulty sending patient home on the vac, some crazy paper work t fill out. So my question is it just in my area, because although quite expensive rental, most of my wounds heal nicely. Also, is there any other products out there like that VAC from KCI that works???? I tried a V1 bluesky vac and got some horrible outcomes. If anybody got some answers let me know.

Please call customer care and report your issues. Service won't change if corporate doesn't know what is going on. I work for KCI and in my area we do everything possible to make sure our customers are happy. We all have wonderful relationships with our customers. For now, there isn't another VAC out there like KCI's.

Chimers · Aug 30, 2007

Wow I am really sorry about your bad experiences with the Reps. In this area of NE Ohio we have a fabulous Rep/Clinical consultant. The rep will meet you at any home and help with any questions that occur during a home visit. I would contact the provider home office and make a complaint. Most reps make clinical wages and they should act like the professionals they are being paid to be! I would be specific on the nature of complaints. This may actually help the company as a whole to provide better customer relations through staff education.

wocpt, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2007

So sorry to hear of your problems with KCI. I am a huge fan of VAC therapy. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend the VAC. I'm in Missouri, and our reps are WONDERFUL. Everyone I've ever delt with has been great. I think you should share your problems with the "home office". I'm sure they would be displeased to find what's going on with you.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 8, 2007

I called the rep last month because one of my ortho surgeons wanted to set up a demo in his office, so that the office nurses ould know how to instrust a pt. on it.

STILL waiting for a reply after FIVE attempts....

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Sep 8, 2007

Wow, our KCI people are great, no problem.

I've only seen one Bluesky in use and it really set the patient back (previously had been on KCI). Got him back on KCI and it started healing again.

RN1989 · Oct 4, 2007

The issues in the recent month are related to reimbursement. Because of the cost, KCI is getting bombarded with phone calls from insurance companies. Especially when the pt is taken off the vac and then put back on. They have also been involved in lawsuits and that it taking a lot of time and money. Have not had problems with the RN consultants but the office people at the 800 number have been problems.

prettylittlecreature · Mar 29, 2009

Sorry to hear about your KCI problems. I've worked in the Long Beach, CA doing home health and in the SanBernardino, CA area working acute care. So far, the reps have been wonderful. We had a nurse consultant in the San Bernardino area that was very helpful. I guess sometimes it has something to do with individual reps in certain areas. Just specific area problems and not KCI as a whole. As a nurse from the philippines, I'm such a big fan of the wound vac that I'm trying to find information on any possiblilities of the wound vac being used in the my country. :up:

levo33 · May 12, 2009

Also, is there any other products out there like that VAC from KCI that works????

I`m also really sorry about your experience with KCI. But just for curiosity and to answer your question I talked to a friend of mine who is a DME. He told me that there are a few alternatives to the KCI system. There is a company called Smith & Nephew (which I think is former Bluesky?), then there is one that called Medela and one called Atmos. He said he talked to Atmos at a exhibition last month and he was really amazed. They already have 10000 pumps in the field and it`s definitely working. He gave me also the website: www.atmosnpwt.com

Has anyone worked with this pump yet? Any comments?

docpsychrn · Jun 5, 2009

i was on the wound vac for almost 9 months and too had problems with having to go off of it and then back on. but my biggest complaint was when i received the bill! i called them and asked them if i had bought the machine because of the huge bill. i am still paying on about $5000 worth of "renting" the machine...not the $700 sponges or other supplies. :angryfire

certwndnrs · Jun 14, 2009

i've used the venturi negative pressure by invacare and I'm getting ready to try the medella machine. I've had great results with the venturi.