Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is hyperbaric oxygen safe?
A. Yes. HBO therapy is administered under the supervision of a team of physicians and highly trained staff to ensure patient safety. Established industry standards and precautions are strictly adhered to at all times.
Q. What can patients take inside the hyperbaric chamber?
A. Here at HMS, we have monoplace hyperbaric chambers. In the monoplace chamber, you can take in drinking water, glasses (which can only be removed once), and 100% cotton garments. Items such as synthetics (nylon, rayon, etc.), oil based or petroleum products, lipstick, make-up, nail polish, hair products (sprays, gels, mousse, etc.), hearing aides, contact lenses, cell phones & pagers, radios, tape players, MP3 players, watches, newspapers, and food are not allowed in any hyperbaric chamber.
Q. What do I do when inside a hyperbaric chamber?
A. While in the hyperbaric chamber you can watch TV on an externally-anchored system. We provide streaming movies and a DVD player in addition to an audio system to listen to music. You can also just close your eyes and sleep.
Q. Who monitors a patient during a HBO treatment?
A. Patients are monitored at all times by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or a certified hyperbaric technician during their HBO treatment. A supervising hyperbaric physician is present on the premises at all times.
Q. How long does the HBO treatment last?
A. Most HBO treatments generally take about 2 hours. Treatments for some indications can last up to 4 hours. The hyperbaric physician will determine how long each patient's HBO treatment will last.
Q. How many HBO treatments are needed?
A. The hyperbaric physician determines the number of treatments needed. A patient's diagnosis and their individual response to HBO therapy are a few of the factors taken into consideration. For instance, a patient with a non-healing wound would most likely receive a longer course of treatments than a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning would receive.
Q. Is the referring physician involved with the patient's HBO therapy?
A. At Hyperbaric Medical Services, we make it a priority to keep the referring physician involved in the patient's course of treatment, from the initial day of consultation to the last day of treatment.
