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Vyaire Medical Employees Deliver for Patients

June 6, 2020

In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Vyaire Medical employees know that each of them may be asked to go above and beyond their normal duties and they stand ready to answer the call. Literally. In April, Troy Taylor, a Vyaire Medical sales representative for southern California, received a call from Roland Bouvier, director of government sales. There were ventilators destined for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needed to be prepared for delivery. The preparation, known as “kitting,” involves packaging ventilators with all related items – batteries, hoses, backpacks, paperwork, etc. – needed to operate the devices. Taylor reached out to longtime friend and colleague Terri Pickar, a ventilator solutions specialist, and together they traveled an hour to a warehouse where the equipment was waiting. Because the warehouse is certified for medical supplies, no food or drinks, including water, were permitted inside. The pair spent the better part of the first day getting organized and preparing 30 ventilators for shipping. “By the end of the first day we were organized and had a process down so it started to go pretty smoothly,” Taylor said. “It definitely helped to have that organization. Otherwise we would’ve been there a lot longer,” Pickar added. But with additional ventilators to prepare, and more arriving each day, they knew they were going to need more help so they called in Bob Mennig, a regional clinical specialist. The trio spent a total of four days at the warehouse and prepared about 200 ventilators for delivery, all while continuing to fulfill their daily duties. “I was on call that week for the tech team,” said Pickar, who normally is responsible for educating and training clinicians. “I was able to take calls as needed.” Taylor, Pickar and Mennig are all former clinicians so they had a deep understanding of the importance of what they were doing. “For me, it was the ability to have an impact,” Mennig said. “It gave me a sense of pride to know that I was able to do that.” “At the end of the day, we all work for Vyaire and we’re here to get the job done for our customers,” Taylor added. “I was just happy to have the opportunity to show who we are as a company and to show that we’re always there for our customers and their patients.” For more information about Vyaire’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, visit the company’s COVID-19 Response Center at https://www.vyaire.com/Covid-19.

Vyaire Medical CEO: Meet Today’s Needs, Innovate for the Future

May 29, 2020

Vyaire Medical continues to work on two fronts to have positive impacts on the health and lives of patients worldwide. The company is driven to meet the needs of customers and patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic, while also looking to the future and preparing to adapt and innovate as market demands change and evolve. Vyaire Medical, already the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care, has boosted its manufacturing capacity, both internally and through strategic partnerships, in response to the worldwide COVID-19 crisis. For example, Vyaire Medical recently announced an agreement with Spirit AeroSystems, one of the world’s largest non-OEM designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial and defense aircraft, to manufacture LTV2™ 2200 ventilators. The company also has mustered all of its internal resources to ensure delivery of ventilators to the areas of greatest need. “I am humbled to be a part of the historic response to this global crisis,” said Gaurav Agarwal, CEO of Vyaire Medical. “I sincerely appreciate the commitment and resiliency of all our Vyaire associates, many of whom have gone above and beyond their normal responsibilities to provide clinicians and providers with the needed resources for treating patients at the bedside.” But meeting the current unprecedented demand for ventilators is only half the battle. Agarwal said Vyaire Medical is preparing for an increased need for service and related equipment to keep devices operational, as well as planning to expand its research and development efforts in order to continue to innovate respiratory treatment solutions for the future. “The steps we take now will be highly consequential in the days, months and years ahead,” he said. “I suspect the learnings we glean today as we learn more about how this disease attacks the body and develop new treatment protocols will pay dividends well into the future.” As part of its preparation for the future, Vyaire Medical is committed to rebuilding strategic stockpiles of ventilators and equipment in the United States and abroad. Vyaire has been selected by the European Commission as a supplier of priority medical equipment to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. Under a framework contract Vyaire will be providing ventilators to EU Member States. The framework contract runs for 12 months and allows for the purchase of approximately 26,200 ventilators in total, based on ordering by the Member States. In April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Vyaire Medical a $407.9 million contract to produce 22,000 LTV2 2200 ventilators for the U.S. National Strategic Stockpile. For more information about Vyaire’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, visit the company’s COVID-19 Response Center at https://www.vyaire.com/Covid-19.

Vyaire, Spirit Partnership Increases Production Capabilities

May 28, 2020

Vyaire Medical, the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care, demonstrated its commitment to customers and patients through a temporary partnership that will allow Vyaire to meeting the global demand for ventilators. Vyaire Medical’s agreement with Spirit AeroSystems, one of the world’s largest non-OEM designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial and defense aircraft, is meaningful action to meet unprecedented demand for ventilation equipment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our way of life, but this is our opportunity to meet the needs of the American people with this partnership,” said Vyaire Medical CEO Gaurav Agarwal. “Spirit’s breadth of technical capability, manufacturing prowess and skilled workforce make them ideally suited to support us in scaling our operations to meet this unprecedented demand.” Spirit, based in Wichita, Kan., has expertise with industrializing and building at high production rates and has a large, well-trained and experienced workforce of assembly mechanics, machinists, factory managers and supply chain professionals already working to support conversion of manufacturing to medical devices. Training of staff and design of the production system is underway at Spirit facilities in Kansas. Teams are readying the facilities with production materials, critical equipment and building infrastructure to stand up manufacturing lines. In April Vyaire Medical was chosen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide 22,000 of its LTV2 2200 ventilators to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. “The Spirit manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles,” Agarwal said.” Vyaire is working with customers, including the HHS, to ensure patient need is prioritized and that critical care ventilators are distributed to areas in most need.” For more information about Vyaire’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, visit the company’s COVID-19 Response Center at https://www.vyaire.com/Covid-19.

Vyaire Medical Supports Study on Short- and Long-Term COVID-19 Patient Impact

May 7, 2020

Vyaire Medical today announced its support of a study to measure the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 pneumonia. The single-center, investigator-initiated study at Amphia Hospital in Breda, the Netherlands led by Ingrid de Backer, MD, PhD, will contribute to much-needed data on the effects of COVID-19 after hospital discharge, both in terms of pulmonary function and quality of life. “At Vyaire, we ramped up production at unprecedented rates to meet the demand for ventilators and other supplies when the pandemic began, but our commitment to the respiratory care community in understanding this novel coronavirus doesn’t stop there,” said Michael Pedro, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer, Vyaire. “Through this unrestricted grant, we take just one more step in providing clarity on this disease and the ongoing effects, as so much remains unknown.” The study, titled “pulmonary function and health-related quality of life after COVID-19 pneumonia,” evaluated 101 adult COVID-19 patients with either moderate or severe pneumonia at six weeks and three months post-hospitalization. At both of those time points, the study mapped: lung function and degree of dyspnea quality of life, anxiety and depression effort and muscle strength differences between ICU and non-ICU patients in lung function, quality of life and exercise capacity Results of the patients at six-week post-discharge were recently published in Respiratory Medicine and will be followed by three-month post-discharge data.   For more information about Vyaire’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, visit the company’s COVID-19 Response Center.

Employee Safety Remains a Top Priority

May 5, 2020

Vyaire Medical knows there’s more to increasing production to meet the increasing worldwide demand for ventilators than procuring resources and protecting the supply chain. A top priority has been – and remains – the health and safety of all employees worldwide. “We have always believed that the people who make up the global Vyaire Medical family are our most valuable and cherished assets,” said CEO Gaurav Agarwal. “Their well-being is very important to us and we’ve taken quick action to ensure they are protected.” Vyaire Medical has been working with its network of suppliers, contractors and partners in effort to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees at its many facilities around the world. In addition, individual locations have implemented additional measures. During Chinese New Year, Vyaire Medical took advantage of the traditional downtime to disinfect the entire manufacturing plant in Shenzhen, China. Each of the 124 employees must wash their hands and have their temperature checked before entering the facility. All employees wear protective masks during their shifts. In addition, employees are asked to complete a questionnaire designed to help monitor the overall health of everyone at the facility. Questions include things like whether someone has had contact with anyone from outside China in the past two weeks or whether they have been to a crowded place like a supermarket or restaurant in the past two days. “We have daily updates on recent news and coronavirus protection,” said Rachel Chen, site leader at the Shenzhen plant. “We need them to know how to protect themselves and their families.” Similar safety precautions have been implemented at Vyaire Medical’s manufacturing plant in Palm Springs, Calif. All employees wear masks and gloves are available, if desired. A nurse is present 24/7 for employee consultations and to take everyone’s temperature before entering the building. Vyaire Medical also has hired additional cleaning crew staff to wipe down doorknobs, railings and common space areas throughout the day. The entire 140,00-square-foot building has undergone two extensive deep cleanings and the facility has been directionally reorganized so that hallways and stairways are one way. “Stairs are no longer up and down. They’re either up or down,” said Stephanie Cass, director of operations in Palm Springs. “People are really getting in their steps trying to get around.” The Palm Springs plant, which has seen production levels increase 100% between February and April, has already hired 40 new employees, bringing the total number of people at the facility to 270. Cass said she expects another 80 hires to meet growing demands. With the number of people growing, Cass said shift schedules have been reorganized to minimize overlap while maintaining 24/7 production. In addition, meetings have been moved out of conference rooms into large, open spaces and employee breaks and lunch times have been staggered to allow for social distancing in the cafeteria. “Morale has been pretty good. Everyone has been adjusting to things as best they can,” Cass said. “The team understands why we have to take all the safety measures we’re taking and they’re happy to go along with them.” For more information about Vyaire’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, visit the company’s COVID-19 Response Center at https://www.vyaire.com/Covid-19.

Vyaire Medical CEO Gaurav Agarwal announced several initiatives to support healthcare professionals.

Vyaire CEO Reaffirms Commitment to Front-Line Medical Professionals

May 5, 2020

Vyaire Medical Inc., the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care, has undertaken several corporate initiatives in its continuing efforts to support the global healthcare community in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 13 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Vyaire Medical a $407.9 million contract to produce 22,000 LTV2 2200 ventilators for the U.S. National Strategic Stockpile by June 29. The announcement came amid other actions Vyaire Medical was already taking to address the global healthcare crisis. “As extraordinary actions continue to be taken by those providing healthcare services on the frontlines of the global COVID-19 pandemic, I want to extend deep appreciation and admiration for the heroic role these individuals are playing and the personal risk they are taking to help others,” said Gaurav Agarwal, who became Vyaire Medical CEO in January 2020. “Vyaire Medical understands that frontline responders are facing unimaginable pressures as they rally exhausted teams, secure needed equipment and do everything possible to provide effective and compassionate care to patients and families suffering as a result of this unprecedented health crisis,” he continued. “Fulfilling this commitment requires incredible sacrifice and we want our valued partners to know we are completely focused on supporting you. We share your sense of urgency to provide caregivers around the world with the equipment and resources they need to ease the suffering of their patients and to help them fully recover.” Vyaire took early and decisive action to adapt our manufacturing operations and increase production of ventilators and related consumables to meet surging demand. Early Interventions: Because of the early and decisive action to dramatically increase production to meet the expected surge in demand for ventilation equipment, Vyaire is well-positioned to meet not only the HHS order but to also fulfill production orders from other state governments, hospitals and global health systems. Employee Safety: Vyaire immediately implemented health and safety precautions in facilities around the world to limit colleagues’ exposure to the virus and ensure safe and hygienic working conditions. This effort included procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) and a number of targeted HR programs and services. Increased Production: As the global pandemic has progressed, Vyaire has been ramping up operations and production capacity at its Palm Springs, Calif. and Mexicali facilities. As the need for expanded production and speedy delivery increases, Vyaire is expanding capacity at its other facilities abroad, including in Brazil and Malaysia, to ensure minimal disruption in deliveries to valued customers worldwide. New Partnerships: Vyaire is actively securing partnerships with industrial manufacturing companies in the U.S. to further expand production and speed delivery of essential ventilation equipment to help meet the increase in demand. These partnerships will more than double the number of American workers producing LTV2 2200 machines that are part of the HHS contract. Government & Regulatory Outreach: As a member of AdvaMed, the leading trade association for medical device makers, Vyaire has contributed its voice and expertise to that organization and our peers in the industry. Vyaire also has also had discussions with federal and state lawmakers who are crafting policies to help address concerns among their constituents as they seek solutions to health and economic issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Again, I want to thank the brave individuals leading the charge as we work in tandem to meet healthcare provider and patient needs during this unprecedented time. We are committed to our mission to improve patient outcomes and provide value to our customers and by working together, we are confident that we can succeed,” Agarwal said. For more information about Vyaire’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, visit the company’s COVID-19 Response Center at https://www.vyaire.com/Covid-19.

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