• Skip to main content
Vestex Protects
  • For Brand
    Manufacturers
    • Why Become A Licensee
    • Product Development Process
    • How To Become A Licensee
    • Target Markets
  • For Fabric
    Finishing Mills
    • Why Become A Certified Application Partner
    • How To Become A Certified Application Partner
    • Target Markets
  • Buy
    Products
  • Effectiveness
    + Safety
    • FDA Regulatory Clearance
    • Effectiveness
    • Endorsements + Awards
    • VESTEX® +
      COVID-19
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Company History
    • News
  • Contact
Vestex Protects

Effectiveness + Safety

  • FDA Regulatory Clearance
  • Effectiveness
  • Endorsements + Awards
  • VESTEX® + COVID-19

For Brand Manufacturers

  • Why Become A Licensee
  • Product Development Process
  • How To Become A Licensee
  • Target Markets

For Fabric Finishing Mills

  • Why Become A Certified Application Partner
  • How To Become A Certified Application Partner
  • Target Markets

About Us

  • Leadership
  • Company History
  • News
  • Contact Us

How to Buy

  • Buy Licensee Products

First Large Hospital System Converts to Vestagen’s New Vestex® Protected Attire Designed to Help Fight Pathogen Transmission

June 24, 2014

Deal marks company’s biggest deployment of groundbreaking healthcare worker safety enhancing uniforms

ORLANDO, Fla. – June 24, 2014 – Vestagen Technical Textiles, Inc. today announced it has finalized a five-year, multi-million dollar contract to provide Baptist Health of Jacksonville, Fla. with white coats and scrubs protected by Vestagen’s proprietary Vestex® fabric. Vestex combines breathability, fluid-repellency and antimicrobial activity to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission on soft-surfaces. The agreement marks the largest contract in Vestagen’s history.

“This large-scale adoption of Vestex protected attire is not only a major milestone for our company it is also a major milestone in U.S. healthcare. Baptist Health is making the first widespread commitment to proactively improve healthcare worker and patient safety by utilizing advanced textile technology,” said Ben Favret, president and CEO of Vestagen. “Vestagen is absolutely privileged to partner with a leading hospital system like Baptist Health to demonstrate that what healthcare workers wear should serve as a barrier against harmful pathogens.”

Vestex fabric is fluid-repellant to reduce the acquisition and retention of contaminants and made with an embedded antimicrobial to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the fabric. It is the first fabric clinically proven to minimize the acquisition and retention of pathogens. According to a clinical study published in the journal of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology1, ICU staff wearing Vestex had greater than 99.99 percent fewer methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) organisms present on their uniforms, both before and after a shift, compared to workers wearing traditional non-protective uniforms. The fabric is also breathable with the ability to quickly wick away moisture from the inside, providing comfort to the wearer and a constant professional appearance.

Baptist Health is investing in its conversion to Vestex uniforms as part of a new system-wide effort to leverage technology to enhance their culture of safety. The uniforms will be distributed to more than 6,000 staff members involved in direct patient care across its five-hospital system starting on July 9. Baptist Health also plans to extend Vestex protection to patients later this year through the deployment of new patient apparel custom designed in collaboration with Vestagen to enhance patient protection and dignity.

“Our decision to protect our staff with Vestex attire is an investment in enhancing the culture of safety for our employees and patients,” said Diane Raines, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Baptist Health. “We believe the proactive steps we are taking to minimize the role attire can play in transmitting pathogens will soon be the new standard in preventing unexpected exposures. This is part of our commitment to change health care for good. As early adopters of this new technology we will share what we learn with others in our industry.”

“Healthcare workers are exposed to some of the most dangerous work environments and need better protection from the body fluids and harmful contaminants they encounter every day,” added Favret. “The progressive action Baptist Health is taking to prioritize staff and patient safety in this way sets a strong precedent for other healthcare facilities to follow.”

Baptist Health’s efforts also support Vestagen’s goal to inform healthcare workers about the important role their uniforms can play in pathogen transmission. To draw further attention to this issue, Vestagen recently launched a “Keep the Coat” campaign to raise awareness about the transmission potential of non-protective uniforms and the risk of contaminating provider’s street clothes if the protective qualities of the storied white coat are removed during patient interaction.

For more information about the “Keep the Coat” campaign and to join the discussion about mobile soft-surface contamination, please visit facebook.com/keepthecoat.

About Vestagen
Vestagen Technical Textiles develops and markets advanced performance textile products and technologies. Vestagen has developed Vestex®, the first in a new class of technology-based, active barrier protective fabrics combining antimicrobial, liquid repellent and breathability properties. Vestex uniforms and scrubs for healthcare applications are designed to protect workers and their patients from dangerous contaminants. They are clinically proven to prevent or reduce the acquisition and retention of contaminants on clothing and are comfortable, durable and affordable.

1 G. Bearman, et al., A crossover trial of antimicrobial scrubs to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus burden on healthcare worker apparel. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 2012: Vol. 33; No. 3.

Categories: News, Press Releases

Vestex Protects logo

Call 407-488-0920 or email us.

  • For Brand Manufacturers
  • For Fabric Finishing Mills
  • Buy Products
  • Effectiveness + Safety
  • Contact Us
  • The ability of VESTEX® to reduce the retention of MRSA on the fabric surface has not been shown to correlate with the reduction of infections.
  • Clinical studies to evaluate reduction of infection have not been performed for this device.
  • VESTEX® Apparel is not intended to replace personal protective equipment.
  • VESTEX® does not replace PPE worn for specific use and during episodes of expected blood, body fluid and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) exposure.

Privacy Notice | Terms of Use

Copyright © 2023 VESTEX®