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Rx Pad

Improving the Health of Your Clinical Practice
May
21

4 Easy Tips to Improve Your Clinic's Community Education Initiatives

By providing community education to potential patients you are, in the words of John Peters, incoming Executive Director of UHMS and Managing Partner of Wound Care Education Partners, “building awareness, and with that awareness we’re able to impact healing outcomes for patients in our community.”

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May
15

Question: I am currently a DMT and would like to take the course(s) necessary for the CHT certification. Which courses will lead me in that direction?

We recently recieved this question from a prospective student. If you find yourself asking this same question, read on to learn the course of action we recommend.

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May
13

Question: Does a Safety Director Course designate someone as a Hyperbaric Safety Director?

We are often asked the question, "Does participation in a safety director course automatically designate me as a hyperbaric safety director?" There seems to be some midunderstanding around this issue.

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Apr
21

Is the Introductory Course in Hyperbaric Medicine right for me?

Is the Introductory Course in Hyperbaric Medicine right for me?

Below you'll find some of the questions we get asked about the Introductory Course in Hyperbaric Medicine (ICHM) - along with our honest answers. We'll tell you everything about the program and what it takes so you can make the best enrollment decision for you.

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Mar
18

Question: Why is a hyperbaric facility maintenance program necessary?

Question: Why is a hyperbaric facility maintenance program necessary?

The development of a comprehensive maintenance program for a hyperbaric system and its supporting equipment is essential for a safe and cost-effective operation. The chamber and its operational systems, the chamber room, and the equipment used in and around the chamber should be maintained at the highest operational level. This should also include the cleanliness of all elements of the interior and exterior systems.

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Feb
25

Question: (Dive Medicine) Can you explain the transfer of gases into and out of a scuba diver's body?

Question: (Dive Medicine) Can you explain the transfer of gases into and out of a scuba diver's body?

Henry's law can be used to examine the transfer of gases into and out of a scuba diver's body. 

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Feb
18

Question: What is the Current Perspective Regarding Supervision of Hyperbaric Dives by Nurse Practitioners?

Question: "I would be interested in the current perspective regarding supervision of hyperbaric dives by Nurse Practitioners.

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Feb
11

Myocardial Irritability

Question. Is myocardial irritability a complication frequently experienced by patients with clostridial myonecrosis?

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Feb
07

Managing Cardiac Arrest in Hyperbaric Treatment

Cardiac arrest is a rarity in the chamber, as most arrhythmias seem to improve under hyperbaric conditions. Anecdotally, it can be noted that one patient with a myocardial infarction, who was being treated with hyperbaric oxygen as part of a research study, suffered 30 cardiac arrests during the 48 hours he was being treated with the chamber. The schedule being followed called for two hours at pressure in the chamber followed by one hour on the surface. This cycle was repeated for two days. It can be seen that the patient spent only 1/3 of his time breathing air on the surface. During the study, the patient suffered 28 cardiac arrests while breathing air on the surface, but only two arrests while at pressure in the chamber. The patient eventually recovered and returned to work. (Thurston, J. Westminster Hosp, London, Personal Communication, 1973.)

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Feb
06

Cardiovascular Issues and Management of the Critically Ill Patient in a Hyperbaric Setting: Nursing Considerations and Preventions, as described by Julio R. Garcia, RN

Cardiovascular Issues and Management of the Critically Ill Patient in a Hyperbaric Setting: Nursing Considerations and Preventions, as described by Julio R. Garcia, RN

The cardiovascular assessment of a critical care patient receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy is similar to any cardiovascular assessment of a critical care patient. Cardiac rhythm should be assessed and monitored during the treatment. If the patient would experience a cardiac emergency during HBO treatment, the staff should be trained to handle such an emergency. It is important to remember that a patient at depth is well oxygenated and will remain so for 5 to 8 minutes. The safest way to bring a patient that has had a cardiac arrest to the surface is to bring them up at 5 psig (fastest rate on a monoplace chamber), while the staff prepares to deliver emergency care. Performing a rapid ascent using the emergency ascent button on monoplace chambers places the person at grave risk for air embolism due to expansion injuries. Once the patient has surfaced, move them to the point farthest away from the open chamber, remove the hyperoxygenated clothing, and if appropriate, defibrillate. Cold oxygen will fall to the floor and dissipate in 30 seconds, so do not place the area at an increased fire risk with the use of a defibrillator. The staff needs to be able to respond quickly and appropriately to such an emergency, so it is our recommendation that the staff be Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified.

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