Choosing Hyperbaric Chamber Training Courses

By Janine Hughes


Recompression chambers were associated with diving operations until fairly recently. It was only in the early 1960s that research showed the benefits to certain patients of breathing in pure oxygen at pressures greater than normal atmospheric pressure. It was found that this treatment helped new blood vessels to grow and body tissue and organs received more oxygen, thus promoting the healing process. Today a number of hyperbaric chamber training courses exist for health care professionals who want to be involved with this type of treatment.

Chambers are situated at a number of hospitals and other treatment centers. Some chambers are designed to accommodate a number of patients at the same time. They have two compartments that decompress and compress independently, allowing a multidisciplinary team to go into and out of the chamber without affecting the treatment of the patients. Each person is provided with oxygen via an individualized delivery system. Other chambers are designed to treat only one patient at a time.

So many different problems have been discovered to benefit from this treatment. It is often used together with other medical and surgical treatments, particularly when they have not been that successful. Wounds that do not heal, thermal burns and crush injuries are just some of the conditions that respond well to treatment. A trained physician determines the safest dose and amount of time necessary to treat each condition.

A number of courses are available for those wanting to learn how to administer the treatment. When selecting such a course, the experience and credentials of those offering the course should also be considered. An accredited course is essential. Other factors that should be considered are course content, teaching methods, cost and length.

Many health care professionals choose to update their skills with online courses today. The online courses offered are often excellent quality and the most up-to-date information and tools are available. Online forums and discussion groups put students in touch with one another. Plenty of help is usually available from instructors too.

Topics covered in the most basic courses will be those such as the workings of chambers, oxygen toxicity as well as contraindications and side effects. Some time should be spent focused on patient care and treatment for specific conditions. Most courses are well structured with a good balance between theory and the practical application. Assessment is often continuous rather than consisting of one exam.

The length of such courses varies according to the amount of content covered and the experience level of the students. For example, some are specifically designed for those with prior knowledge. Courses may be specifically geared towards physicians, technologists, nurses, respiratory therapists and allied health care professionals. Most of these courses offer some kind of certification once a course is completed.

Patients need to feel confident that they are in the hands of a trained and certified team. Trained physicians are able to prescribe oxygen dosage and a course of therapy according to the diagnosis. Such treatment provides a valuable and unique therapy for certain medical conditions and is often used in conjunction with other surgical or medical treatments, particularly when they have been unsuccessful.




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