Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy And Medicare Approved Indications For Treatment

The Center for Wound Healing, Inc. also provides access to Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy-a simple, non-invasive, painless treatment in which the patient breathes 100% oxygen while inside a treatment chamber. The increase in oxygen in the blood stimulates the production of collagen, the body's natural 'scaffolding', and helps the body regenerate blood vessels in compromised areas - both necessary for wound healing. It also activates the white blood cells to fight infection. HBO can be the primary treatment or it can be used in combination with other treatments for patients with the following indications:

• Diabetic wounds of the lower extremity
  (Type I or II diabetic, Wagner grade III wound or higher, following 30 days of standard wound therapy)
• Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis
• Osteoradionecrosis
• Soft Tissue Radionecrosis
• Compromised Skin Grafts and Flaps
• Outpatient Management of Acute Peripheral Arterial Insufficiency
• Acute Traumatic Peripheral Ischemia
• Progressive Necrotizing Infections
• Actinomycosis
• Outpatient Management of Crush Injuries and Suturing of Severed Limbs (Acute)

The company's assistance in developing and implementing individualized treatment plans, the use of evidence-based protocols and proactive intervention and case management have been extremely successful in treating chronic wounds that have previously not healed-with outcomes that far exceed the national average.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatments

• Uses pure oxygen to enhance the body's natural ability to heal.
• Encompasses 100% oxygen under two to three times greater pressure than atmospheric pressure.
• This increased pressure (up to three atmospheres) causes a 10- to 15- fold increase in plasma oxygen concentration with a resultant increase in tissue oxygenation.
• Cannot be duplicated with topical O2 treatment.
• Is extremely safe and effective when administered by qualified professionals.

HBO is gaining support.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") has continued to view hyperbaric medicine as cost-effective in limb salvage and has recently increased the covered indications for HBO.