Blogs and news

Tracheostomy HMEs: Myth or Fact?

While active humidification has traditionally been considered the standard of care in tracheostomy management, HMEs offer several advantages for both patients and caregivers, including portability, ease of use, and support for long term airway health. Despite these benefits, misconceptions about HMEs remain common and warrant clarification.

Optimizing Outcomes with Standardized Tracheostomy and Laryngectomy HME Use

Beyond the “why,” this course focuses on the “how,” offering practical strategies to implement and sustain standardized HME use across both laryngectomy and tracheostomy populations.

Shout at Cancer – an interview with Dr. Thomas Moors

We sat down with Dr. Thomas Moors; founder and choir director of Shout at Cancer, to talk about the story behind the choir, and the impact of it.

Restoring Voice After Tracheostomy: Communication options to support patient-centric care

Restoring verbal communication is a critical component of patient-centered tracheostomy care.

Supporting Clinical Development

Tracheostomy Education and Education and Resources

Oxygen Without Disruption: A Fresh Look at Supplemental O₂ for Laryngectomy Care

For patients with a total laryngectomy, supplemental oxygen is sometimes required during hospitalization and at home. That is where Provox Life Oxygen adaptor offers a practical and patient-friendly alternative.

From Evidence to Practice: Standardizing Tracheostomy HME Use in the Hospital

Standardizing HME use promotes evidence-based, patient-centered care while improving continuity across units.

Peristomal Skin Health: The Foundation for Reliable Adhesive Use After Laryngectomy

Achieving a comfortable, reliable attachment is an important part of the rehabilitation journey after total laryngectomy.

Adult Tracheostomy Management: Insights from SLPs Around the World

A recent international survey by Miles and Wallace (2025) highlighted both the essential role SLPs play in adult tracheostomy care and substantial variability in education, clinical responsibilities, and access to structured support.

HME Awareness: Empowering Patients

The Atos Medical HME Awareness program is a 4-6 week program directed at increasing patient adherence to the use of HMEs as prescribed by their healthcare professional (HCP).  

Impact of Tracheostomy on Developmental Milestones and Clinical Approaches for Healthcare Providers

Tracheostomy teams have been part of the healthcare landscape for many years, but only recently have the benefits of the team been widely studied.

Empowering Clinicians in Head and Neck Cancer Care: You Have an ACE in Your Pocket!

Over the past year, the Atos Clinical Education (ACE) team has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting healthcare professionals.

Restoring Connection: How Atos Medical and TEDPA Are Expanding Access to Electrolarynx Devices

Healthcare professionals understand the profound impact a laryngectomy has on a patient’s ability to communicate. For many, an electrolarynx becomes an essential tool for restoring speech, especially for phone conversations.

Tracheostomy Teams in Healthcare: A Path to Better Outcomes 

Tracheostomy teams have been part of the healthcare landscape for many years, but only recently have the benefits of the team been widely studied.

Guiding Transitions: Using the LaryTube with Ring for Adhesive Success

When the patient presents for outpatient rehabilitation after a laryngectomy, there is a lot to cover: learning how to use a voice prosthesis, electrolarynx training, HME compliance—the checklist is extensive.

Atos is Shaping the Future of Laryngectomy and Tracheostomy Management: Join us at ASHA 2025!

Enhancing Access to Care for Patients After Total Laryngectomy

Ensuring access to care for patients following a total laryngectomy (TL) is crucial for their recovery, rehabilitation, and overall quality of life.

Tracoe Clinical Resources: What’s Happening?

Tracoe has a variety of educational and product resources for health care professionals (HCPs). Having specialized clinical materials enables HCPs to provide the best care to their patients with a tracheostomy.

Regaining Your Voice After a Total Laryngectomy

Your voice is important, it’s how you communicate and express your thoughts and feelings, so losing it after a total laryngectomy can be upsetting. Thankfully, there are methods available for you to regain your voice.

Optimizing patient outcomes with the Tracoe Twist Plus tracheostomy tube

Tracoe Twist Plus tracheostomy tubes offer a wide range of features designed to meet patients’ needs throughout their journey, from insertion to decannulation.

Improving the quality of life for laryngectomy patients is the core mission of Atos Medical

Atos Medical Clinical Navigators supplement the education patients receive from their HCPs and focus on product knowledge and utilization.

Key Recommendations for Tracheoesophageal Puncture: Interview with Dr. Miguel Mayo-Yáñez 

We spoke with Dr. Mayo-Yáñez about the most impactful findings, including when primary TEP is preferred, what factors influence success, and why clearer standards in reporting are urgently needed.

Review of Pediatric Tracheostomy

There are a variety of tracheostomy tube options for pediatric patients. Tracoe offers the Tracoe Mini and Tracoe Silcosoft tracheostomy tubes.

Advancing Independence: Earlier Adhesive Adoption After Laryngectomy

Whether you're new to working with total laryngectomy patients or have years of experience, one thing is clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Every patient’s recovery is unique, and clinical practices vary significantly depending on training, setting, and resources.

Dispelling Tracheostomy Myths

Tracheotomies are life-saving procedures that can significantly improve a person’s ability to breathe and manage respiratory conditions. However, many myths and misconceptions surrounding tracheostomies can lead to confusion, delayed intervention and can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life.

Enhancing Patient Care and Clinical Efficiency with Provox Dilator

The Provox Dilator is uniquely engineered to ensure complete and consistent tract dilation—both anterior and posterior—for ease of voice prosthesis (VP) replacement unlike other dilators.

Our Clinical Education Team is growing: Meet the new members of the team!

We have added three new Clinical Educators, Tricia, Katrina and Megan to the team and we are excited for you to meet them.

Celebrating 35 Years of the Provox Voice Prosthesis

Celebrating 35 Years of Provox: Marking the 35th anniversary of the Provox voice prosthesis, we explore its journey and impact on people living with a laryngectomy.

Restoring Voice After Tracheostomy: The Role of Speaking Valves

Restoring Voice After Tracheostomy: The Role of Speaking Valves

HME Evidence and Benefits

A systematic review comparing active humidification (Conventional External Humidification Systems) and passive humidification (Heat and Moisture Exchangers).

Types of Artificial Humidification for Patients with Tracheostomies

Two common types of artificial humidification for patients with tracheostomy include Conventional External Humidification Systems (CEHS) and Heat and Moisture Exchangers (HME).

TrachPhone – The Multifunctional HME

This multifunctional HME, designed for spontaneously breathing patients, incorporates a speech valve, oxygen port, and suction port.

Meet Robert - A Provox Life user from the US

Robert Sisler, a 66-year-old retiree from the U.S., shares his journey and how the Atos Provox ActiValve became a game-changer for him.

Voice prosthesis leakage: Tips for effective management and care

How to check if your voice prosthesis is leaking and how to reduce and prevent leakage.

The benefits of a post-operative laryngectomy clinical pathway: Quality-driven approaches to care

Laryngectomy clinical pathways or guidelines can optimize success and patient outcomes through strategy, consistency and teamwork.

Atos Medical Spot on Support (SOS)

Atos Medical Spot On-Support (SOS) is entering its sixth year of providing on-demand, virtual support for clinicians. You have access to one-on-one phone or live, interactive HIPAA-compliant video conferencing with the Atos Clinical Education Team instantly. From quick questions to managing more complex issues and adverse events, our clinical education team is available on-demand, just a phone call away.

Meet Peter – A Provox Life user from Sweden

We spoke with Peter Lindell, a Provox Life user from Sweden who enjoys wearing the Protect HME in situations where he may be more exposed to dust, pollen, viruses, and bacteria.

Clinical Publications of Interest 2025-01

Quarterly update of studies published in acknowledged peer-reviewed journals on topics related to Head & Neck cancer, laryngectomy and tracheostomy.

A Night And Day Difference

The importance of using the optimal HME for a good night’s sleep.

Troubleshooting: Voice Prosthesis Longevity

Do you need extra protection from pollen?

Do you need extra protection from pollen? The pollen season typically begins in early spring and can last until autumn, during this time we often spend more time outside and are more exposed to pollen.

Meet Dorenda 

In 2006, Dorenda underwent surgery for thyroid cancer. Read her story.

The function of your nose

Your nose does more than just smell – it heats, humidifies, and filters the air you breathe. In this way, you can be sure the air is at the right body temperature and contains enough moisture when it reaches your lungs for them to function properly.

LitAlert #49

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancers employs ionizing radiation which damages genetic material of susceptible malignant cells. In the oral cavity, this can lead to dental complications such as mucositis, trismus, xerostomia, radiation caries, and osteoradionecrosis.

LitAlert #51

Despite previous evidence demonstrating the safety and benefits of above-cuff vocalization (ACV) in mechanically ventilated patients, there's a lack of research on the hospital-wide adoption of ACV-capable tracheostomy tubes.

LitAlert #50

Squamous cell carcinoma exhibits declining incidence in the Nordic countries with approximately 170 cases in Sweden each year.

Regaining Your Sense of Smell and Taste After a Total Laryngectomy

LitAlert #52

In total laryngectomy (TL) patients voice prostheses (VP) can be implanted to restore speech by creating a tracheoesophageal voice.

Four Easy Steps to Healthy Skin Around Your Stoma

Skin Care Tips for People with Laryngectomy Using Adhesives.

Ten tips for traveling with confidence as a person with a laryngectomy

Your guide to taking care of your neck stoma while on vacation.

Meet Leo – 10 years living with a laryngectomy

Leo Eppink comes from the northeast of Netherland and underwent a total laryngectomy 10 years ago. Today he is an enthusiastic patient educator, who has been committed to helping fellow laryngectomized people for many years.