Adventist Health Wound Care

Planning your visit

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy begins with an order from the patient's attending physician once the team has established that the patient can benefit from it.

The first visit includes an assessment of the wound and general health and a review of medical history. The team may arrange tests or specialist input, and explains wound care at home and ways to avoid further injury. A primary care provider can help decide whether wound care is appropriate, and the wound care team answers questions and helps arrange referrals by phone. The clinic aims to schedule a first visit within a week of receiving a referral, and referrals can be sent by fax. Hyperbaric sessions last about 90 to 120 minutes. Patients remain awake during a session and can watch TV, read or listen to the radio while in the clear chamber, with a therapist present the whole time. Before treatment, patients are asked not to smoke, may need to avoid certain medications, should postpone if they develop cold or flu symptoms, and must remove personal items such as jewelry, hearing aids, cosmetics and plastic accessories.