The following is given with permission for use of UHMS, Hyperbaric Medicine Indications Manual, 15th Edition granted by Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical, NPB, FL.
In this article we are uncovering one of the component that make a successful hyperbaric and wound care center by answering the question of, "WHO Needs To Be Involved?"
I'd like to share an article that applies to all professionals in the field of hyperbaric medicine, including new, aspiring chamber operators. This article is designed to provide a helpful overview and to alleviate fears or apprehensions that may arise during your new journey into the amazing field of hyperbaric oxygen treatments.
Choosing Hyperbaric Nursing as a speciality.
The specialty of hyperbaric nursing was formally recognized with the founding and incorporation of the Baromedical Nurses Association (BNA) in 1985. The BNA was established with 35 founding RN members at the joint meeting of the UMS Annual Scientific Meeting and the Long Beach Clinical Hyperbaric Conference. The BNA, which is international in scope, maintains a membership of 250 registered nurses from approximately five countries. Functions of the BNA include promoting professional activities that enhance the effectiveness of hyper-baric nursing in the health-care system and promoting educational opportunities and networking for nurses practicing in the specialty. Educational activities of the BNA can now be accessed online and focus on chamber and patient safety, patient compliance, evidence-based best practices, and quality improvement programs.The BNA develops and maintains standards-of-care guidelines in hyperbaric nurs-ing and supports nursing research efforts.(1,2)
The following article is an exerpt from the upcoming 2025 Nursing Textbook soon to be published by
Best Publishing Company. For more information on the release go to BestPub.com
INTRODUCTION to Wound Care Certification: Wound Care Certification Study Guide, Third Edition, was developed to encourage health care professionals to obtain recognized credentials in wound care, which should result in improved medical practice, competence,and patient outcomes.
A significant and consistently positive body of evidence from animal and human studies of thermal injury supports the use of hyperbaric oxygen as a means of preventing dermal ischemia, reducing edema, modulating the zone of stasis, preventing partial- to full-thickness conversion, preserving cellular metabolism, dampening inflammation, preventing infection, and promoting healing. The overwhelming majority of clinical reports have shown reduced mortality, length of hospital stays, number of surgeries, and cost of care. Hyperbaric oxygen has been demonstrated to be safe in the hands of those thoroughly trained in rendering this therapy in the critical care setting and with appropriate monitoring precautions. Careful patient selection is mandatory.
Chronic wounds may have cost the U.S. Medicare system as much as $95 billion dollars in 2014, which rivals the gross domestic product (GDP) of a small European country. Nearly 15% of all Medicare patients are affected, far more than have heart failure, although unlike heart disease, there are no recognized specialty training programs producing wound care experts to manage the growing epidemic of problem wounds. This is in part because a nonhealing wound is not actually a disease so much as it is a symptom. The typical patient with a nonhealing wound has an average of six serious comorbid conditions and takes an average of ten medications. If a wound fails to achieve healing, there is always a reason, and often more than one reason, with several different organ systems involved.
Aerospace Medical Association &
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society:
Are you starting a new hyperbaric and wound care clinic, or overhauling an existing program?
Are you unsure where to start with regard to staff training and credentialing for your new hyperbaric and/or wound care clinic? Maybe you didn't know there's a basic training course available in hyperbaric medicine and wound care that is recommended by the medical society for our subspeciality, the UHMS.
