FAQs

General Info

  • Contact us to schedule an appointment for a consultation with one of our experts. We will work with you to determine what treatment plan is best to meet your individual needs.

  • HBOT is considered a safe therapy for a wide variety of conditions. Some patients may experience mild ear pain while the chamber pressurizes, similar to flying in an airplane or at ascending to higher elevations. Yawning and swallowing usually relieves that pressure. Other possible side effects: seizures, anxiety, barotrauma, vision changes, early maturation of cataracts.

  • Yes. Our chambers are the American-made, industry-best Sechrist 3600H Series. We continually train our staff in current HBOT procedures, safety protocols and cleaning measures.

    We take great care in what we do every day to ensure each patient is monitored throughout the treatment session. We also provide patient education and are available to ensure all of your questions and concerns are addressed. Patient health and safety are our top priorities.

Hyperbaric Chamber/Equipment

  • Hyperbaric NC uses FDA-approved, single person chambers. In the industry there are three chamber types:

    • A medical grade, single-person (monoplace) chamber has a hard outer shell and accommodates one person at a time. It offers privacy and treatment customization for the patient. And, it delivers 100% oxygen.

    • A multi-person (multiplace) chamber is created for up to 6-12 patients in one chamber and resembles the seating in an airplane. This reduces flexibility for the patient in a couple of ways. Treatment schedules must be coordinated with other patients. Also, there is less flexibility to customize and individualize treatment plans

    • A soft-sided, single person chamber only utilizes 24 percent oxygen as compared to the 100% oxygen offered in a medical grade, hard cased chamber.* To put in perspective, we breath 21% oxygen at room air and oxygen masks that patients may wear in an ambulance offers 55 percent oxygen. These are not considered medical devices and are not considered an effective medical treatment.

    Our FDA-approved, single person hyperbaric chambers are Sechrist 3600H Series and made in America. Sechrist is well known as a world leader in hyperbaric technology since 1973 with headquarters in the U.S. We are committed to utilizing a medical grade, single-person chambers for added safety and patient comfort

    Moreover, Sechrist has made patient comfort a priority with it spacious design and a fully integrated entertainment system that allows the patient to watch or stream TV or movies, watch DVDs and listen to music.

    *Soft-sided chambers do not meet the North Carolina mandates for Pressure Vessels for Human Occupany (PVHO)

  • Our goal to ensure you are comfortable and relaxed during a treatment session. Our chambers have a fully-integrated entertainment system allowing you to watch TV, movies and listen to music. Some choose rest or nap during treatment.

Insurance/Payment

  • We are among the first free-standing clinics taking insurance without the facility fees often charged at a hospital. Fees that are above and beyond your treatment and professional fees and incurred every time you visit the hospital for treatment. Assuming most treatment plans are 40 to 60 sessions, facility fees can make a huge difference in cumulative cost to treat. At Hyperbaric NC, our patients are not charged those additional facility fees.

    Also, our goal is to provide you with customized service in a more inviting, comfortable environment. We pride ourselves on getting to know you and your preferences, so that we can provide you with the best care possible. We want to ensure the experience is as pleasant, private and relaxed as possible.

  • We have contracts with most commercial insurance carriers, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Before treatment, one of our team members will contact your insurance provider to verify and confirm insurance benefits, including information about deductibles, out-of-pocket costs and co-pay commitments. We recommend that you follow up with your insurance carrier to obtain the most accurate information on your health care plan benefits

    As a “free-standing clinic,” we do not have facility fees (hospital fees) associated with our treatment. These are additional fees on top of your treatment and professional fees submitted to insurance. Hospital fees are typically the most expensive part of medical payments. These are charged every visit when you go to the hospital.

  • FDA Approved Conditions are medical conditions approved by the FDA for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the U.S. and also known as “On Label Conditions.” Emerging Conditions are medical conditions that have a lot of research and patient experiences that support HBOT as an effective treatment, however those conditions have not been approved by the FDA in the U.S. at this time.

Treatment Details

  • Patients will be given special cotton clothing to wear inside the chamber. You should wear loose-fitting clothing that they can easily change out of with cotton socks.

  • We suggest you enjoy a balanced, nutritious meal one- to two-hours before a scheduled treatment. We encourage you to keep hydrated throughout the day of treatment, but to avoid alcohol or carbonated drinks.

  • Treatments vary depending on the medical condition treated and the patient. A typical treatment can take between 90 to 120 minutes per session.

  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is approved by the FDA for indications such as: diabetic wounds of the lower extremities, soft tissue radionecrosis, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNL) and more. Off-label use, sometimes referred to as ‘soft indications,’ of hyperbaric oxygen may include medical conditions which continue to seek FDA approval or conditions which are undergoing further evaluation and experimental testing.  Some of these may include: traumatic brain injury, concussions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sports recovery, autism.  Any patient consultations regarding these ‘softer indications’ for HBOT will be handled on a case by case basis.

    See the Medical Conditions page for our full listing of FDA-approved and emerging/off-label uses.  

  • Our trained professionals will monitor you throughout your treatment session. You will be able to see and communicate with each other at any time through the clear tube and a speaker system.

Cleaning Protocols

  • Our patient’s treatments are scheduled to allow enough time for cleaning in between sessions. We adhere to recommended cleaning protocols to ensure a safe environment for all. Each patient has his or her own sheets and clothing. Personal protective equipment is used by the staff.