Hyperbaric treatment centers located in hospitals are able to treat a range of conditions for a variety of patients. A hospital is the most appropriate
venue for those who require care from multiple medical specialists and for some of those being treated for the HBOT indications cleared by the FDA.
Hospital facilities vary widely in their hyperbaric program capabilities and services.
Emergency Treatment
At some full-service hospitals the hyperbaric program works closely with emergency and intensive care services. These facilities are best prepared to
treat cases of:
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Decompression sickness
- Necrotizing infections
- Burns
- Other life-threatening conditions
Total hyperbaric emergency preparedness requires 24/7 staffing and chamber access, the ability to handle mass casualties, and advanced monitoring equipment.
Other Treatment
Specialty hospitals, such as rehabilitation hospitals, do not provide emergency services but focus instead on chronic wounds and other conditions that
require long-term specialty care.
Most hospitals provide hyperbaric treatment for the following FDA-cleared conditions:
- Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
- Radionecrosis (radiation injuries resulting from cancer treatment)
- Skin grafts and flaps
- Traumatic ischemias (loss of blood flow to tissue as a result of injury)
- Crush injuries
Many hospitals today participate in clinical investigations of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI), Lyme disease, and other
conditions. Before beginning hyperbaric treatment for such investigational or “off-label” conditions, the hospital requires the patient’s consent and
enrollment in the clinical trial.
Hospital-based treatment centers treat both patients admitted to a hospital bed (inpatients) and those who travel to the hospital for treatment
(outpatients). Hospital inpatients and outpatients enjoy direct access to the other departments and services without leaving the facility or the supervision
of its medical staff.
hyperbariclink tip
Consult the Evidence Index in our Diseases and Conditions section to learn
if HBOT is FDA cleared. There you will also find information on the state of the clinical research and links to the medical literature.
Hospitals may use multiplace or monoplace hyperbaric chambers or both.
Multiplace chambers can be equipped with advanced patient monitoring and clinical systems. In multiplace chambers clinicians can accompany the patient
during hyperbaric treatment and continue other therapy during hyperbaric treatment sessions. Such flexibility is particularly important in emergency or
intensive care situations. The entire multiplace chamber is pressurized, and each patient wears a mask or hood filled with 100% oxygen. Multiplace chambers
at some hospital-based treatment centers are equipped with multiple airlocks, so staff can simultaneously treat two or more patient groups.
Monoplace chambers provide individualized hyperbaric treatment to one patient at a time. The entire monoplace chamber is pressurized and filled with 100%
oxygen during treatment, so the patient does not need to wear a mask or hood. Hospitals frequently use monoplace chambers to treat nonhealing wounds and
other chronic conditions.
hyperbariclink tip
ProfilePlus listings in our treatment center directory provide photos and more information on hyperbaric chambers.
Accreditation and Certification
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) accredits select hospital-based hyperbaric treatment centers. UHMS accredited centers
have met rigorous standards for clinical practice, patient safety, and other criteria.
Most physicians and other clinicians practicing in hospital-based HBOT centers are certified in hyperbaric medicine or related specialties, such as wound care,
by the UHMS, American College of Hyperbaric Medicine, or other professional associations.
Cost
Hospital-based hyperbaric oxygen treatment centers charge a premium for access to well-maintained equipment, expert staff, and other facility resources.
A single 90-minute treatment may cost $1,000 or more. But hyperbaric oxygen therapy in hospitals is commonly covered by insurance.