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Hyperbaric Medicine at Hennepin
Hennepin County Medical Center has been delivering hyperbaric oxygen treatment to patients from throughout Minnesota and adjacent states for 45 years. As the only facility in Minnesota from 1964
to 2008, it has unsurpassed experience in the field of Hyperbaric Medicine and in the management of critically ill patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
Hennepin is committed to providing the highest quality of hyperbaric medicine:
- Hennepin's Hyperbaric Medicine Department is staffed with Certified Specialists
- Hyperbaric physicians are board certified in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
as well as in Emergency Medicine
- Hyperbaric nurses are experienced critical care nurses with additional certification
in hyperbaric nursing
- Hyperbaric technicians have earned certification as Hyperbaric Technicians
- Hennepin's Hyperbaric Medicine program is Nationally Accredited. It has been awarded
the
Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation from the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), becoming one of only 88 facilities nationwide to receive full accreditation. The UHMS accreditation program provides for formal quality assurance of a facility's equipment, education and training of staff, and commitment to providing exceptional patient care and safety.
Hennepin's Multi-place Hyperbaric Chamber
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a specialized medical treatment in which the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen while inside a chamber at increased atmospheric pressure. HBO is used for specific medical conditions. HBO has long been recognized as vital in the resolution of critical medical conditions such as gas gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, air embolism due to diving, trauma, or surgical procedures, and decompression sickness. It is also an important adjunct for specific wound healing conditions.
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Hennepin's commitment to Hyperbaric Medicine began in 1964 when the first multi-place hyperbaric chamber opened for patient care and research. Today the existing facility consists of three multiplace treatment chambers, the largest of which can simultaneously accommodate five stretcher patients along with specially trained physicians and nurses. All chambers are operated by certified hyperbaric technicians.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a specialized medical
treatment in which the patient breathes 100% oxygen while inside
a chamber at increased atmospheric pressure. HBO is used for specific
medical conditions. HBO has long been recognized as vital in the resolution
of critical medical conditions such as gas gangrene, carbon monoxide
poisoning, air embolism due to diving, trauma, or surgical procedures,
and decompression sickness. It is also an important adjunct for specific
wound healing conditions.
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Committee of the Undersea and
Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) lists the following indications: approved
uses for Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy:
- Air or gas embolism
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
and smoke inhalation
- Clostridial myonecrosis (gas gangrene)
- Crush injury, compartment syndrome, and other acute
traumatic ischemias
- Decompression sickness
- Enhancement of selected problem wounds
- Exceptional blood loss anemia
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Chronic refractory osteomyelitis
- Radiation tissue damage (Osteoradionecrosis)
- Skin grafts and flaps (compromised)
- Thermal burns
- Adjunctive HBO in intracranial abscess
Hennepin's Hyperbaric Medicine program will generally treat
patients with these diagnoses. Other cases may be considered on an individual
basis or as part of an established research protocol.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered on an outpatient
or inpatient basis depending upon the patient's need. Inpatients may
be hospitalized at Hennepin County Medical Center, or if circum-stances warrant, may be transported
to Hennepin for hyperbaric treatment only. All emergency transfers are seen
initially in Hennepin's Emergency Department.
All non-emergency patients are seen in consultation
by a hyperbaric medicine physician only through referral by their attending
physician or surgeon. Since hyperbaric treatment is added but never
replaces other required treatment, the patient must remain under the
primary care of the attending physician or surgeon. The referring physician
may elect to transfer primary care to an HFA physician of his or her
own specialty. Out of town consultations are referred to the appropriate
HFA specialist for primary care.
Routine consultation
by a hyperbaric physician can be arranged during business hours by calling
the hyperbaric medicine unit at (612) 873-7420. Emergency consultation
by a hyperbaric medicine physician can be arranged 24 hours a day seven
days a week by calling Hennepin's Emergency Department at (612) 873-3131
or 1-800-424-4262.
Resources
- Click here for a printable version of the Hyperbaric Brochure for Patients
- Click here for a printable version of the Hyperbaric Brochure for Medical Providers
- Click here for a map to Hennepin's Hyperbaric facility
- Click here to link to ongoing research in Hyperbaric Medicine taking place at Hennepin
- Click the link to the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society web site for more information about treatment indications, other chamber locations, and more.
Hennepin's monoplace hyperbaric chamber
Hennepin acquired a sophisticated monoplace hyperbaric chamber in 2006. A monoplace chamber accommodates one patient at a time. No hands-on care can be given to the patient during the treatment, but all ICU type monitoring can be done throughout the treatment. The monoplace hyperbaric chamber is located near the surgical ICUs. It has been used extensively for treating acute traumatic brain injuries by research protocol. It is anticipated that it will be used for some patients with other emergent conditions requiring higher pressures when a specialized IV pump becomes available for use with a monoplace chamber at higher pressures.
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For more information:
Jan Deroche
Hyperbaric Medicine
Hennepin County Medical Center
701 Park Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1829
phone: (612) 873-7420
fax: (612) 904-4250
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