Hyperbaric Facility Upgrading Benefits Both Administrators And Patients

By Janine Hughes


Some types of injuries or disease make it necessary to breathe a pure form of oxygen that is under additional atmospheric pressure. The process first came into use to help prevent deep-sea divers from experiencing painful decompression sickness due to rapid ascent, and today is in widespread use as a proven way to encourage more rapid healing of injuries and diseases. Hyperbaric facility upgrading provides advantages both for staff and patients.

During compression, people remain inside a uniquely designed chamber. Untreated air contains around 21% oxygen, and while beneficial, breathing pure oxygen has limited results in most cases. The best outcomes are generated by creating a pure form of this gas that is additionally under greater atmospheric pressure. It can statistically increase the volume of oxygen present in the blood.

For many patients, the outcome is faster and more extensive blood vessel formation, more consistent control of infection, reduced toxicity of some poisons, faster healing of resistant open wounds, and reduced tissue deterioration. Increasing the amount of oxygen delivered throughout the body decreases the probability of obstructions caused by gas bubbles, and encourages thorough healing. Treatments may be as few as two, or may take place daily.

The injuries and illnesses helped by this type of therapy not only include those related to decompression, but also involve stubborn sores common to diabetic people, injuries sustained by crushing, gangrene that threatens to spread, and the damage caused by cancer radiation treatments. People who have suffered extensive burns and grafting heal more rapidly, and carbon monoxide poisoning victims also benefit.

These kinds of facilities are housed primarily in hospitals, and usually consist of small rooms that hold one person, as well as larger chambers that can accommodate up to a dozen. Monoplace chambers are used for individual treatments, and are sometimes made of large, plastic tubes. Sessions may take up to an hour, during which time the patient reclines inside. Most side effects involve ear-popping caused by changing pressure.

The duration and amount of pressure depends primarily on the diagnosis, and positive patient response to previous oxygen therapy. Some may need to spend time in a chamber on a daily basis, while others may need fewer treatments. In most cases the procedure is considered extremely safe, but may cause problems for patients who have upper respiratory infections or other types of counter-indications.

Facilities inspections are conducted regularly to review and analyze daily operations. They are often completed by experienced medical consultants. The equipment is analyzed during real-time use, and associated staff are ask to present any relevant issues or problems they have previously encountered. Operation and maintenance logs provide a record of daily use, and help indicate when replacement is needed.

Both patients and hospital staff benefit from an upgrade to state-of-the art facilities. Not only do improvements increase the quality of care, but are very important to administrators responsible for cost controls. Consultants present solid statistics that detail projected financial savings as well as the amount of necessary investment in new equipment. The process is ongoing, and does not significantly interrupt treatment schedules.




About the Author: