Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Finding Hyperbaric Chamber Training Courses

By Janine Hughes


Divers have used recompression chambers for many years but it was only in the early 1960s that researchers became aware that these chambers could be used for patients suffering from various health problems. Pure oxygen breathed in at a pressure greater than the normal atmospheric pressure was found to accelerate healing. These chambers are now found in a number of hospitals and elsewhere where they are used to treat certain health problems. Hyperbaric chamber training courses have been developed to train physicians, nurses, technicians and other allied health care professionals.

There are basically two main types of chambers, one which is designed for a single patient whilst the other can accommodate several patients at a time. There is enough space for patients to be comfortable and delivery of the oxygen is individualized. The team can enter and exit the chamber without compromising treatment due to separate compartments compressing and decompressing independently.

Many different conditions benefit from treatment in these chambers. Problem wounds, acute thermal burns, decompression sickness, crush injuries and carbon monoxide poisoning are just some conditions that improve with treatment. The amount of time and length of treatment varies according to the condition being treated and treatment protocols have been established identifying safe time-dose limits.

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.

Online courses provide a valuable means of achieving further education today for those who may be unable to physically attend a course. One of the fears people have when it comes to taking online courses is of not receiving enough help and having to battle alone to complete assignments. In fact, most of the online courses available today are very interactive and offer easy access to instructors.

A basic course should cover all the physical aspects of this field of medicine, patient care, oxygen toxicity, how chambers work, contraindications, side effects and more. Significant focus should be given to the clinical aspects of therapy. A course should always offer a good balance between theory and practice and as many learning aids as possible such slides and videos should be utilized.

The type of content covered and the length of a course usually depends on the students it is designed for. Those with much prior experience in medicine will be able to do a basic course easily and progress on to more complex aspects. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and others will all be learning at different levels and towards different goals. Certificates are issued on completion of most of the courses.

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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