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The HBOT Chambers
Welcome to the state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) program at the Wound Center at Northwest. HBOT is a precise medical treatment that speeds up the healing process for many people suffering from chronic wounds that won�t heal with routine treatments. |
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Friendly and professional staff members greet patients when they arrive at the Wound Center to register for their daily treatments. Once they�ve signed in, patients can relax in the quiet, comfortable waiting area until they are called for treatment.
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Northwest Hospital Center redesigned an area, specifically created to house hyperbaric chambers. So far, two have been installed. Each one is perfect for a patient to lie in comfortably while pure oxygen at higher than normal atmospheric pressure is let into the sealed chamber.
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Once the chamber is closed, highly-skilled physicians and nurses especially trained in hyperbaric oxygen therapy can talk directly with the patient by telephone throughout the two-hour treatment, so there is always an open line of communication. They can also keep a close eye on the chamber settings. |
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While the HBOT treatment is going on, a technician is in the room with high-tech monitoring equipment. The treatment works by increasing the blood�s ability to carry oxygen to stimulate cell growth, promote the formation of new blood vessels and fight certain infections. This allows wounds to heal faster than normal. |
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Each chamber is a
see-through wide tube. A comfortable stretcher easily slides into the chamber. During the sessions, patients can watch TV or videos on a monitor which is just outside the chamber. They can also listen to music through speakers that feed into the chamber or just relax. Specially chosen artwork on the walls is designed to encourage restful images. |
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The Wound Center at Northwest provides patients with 100% cotton gowns. It�s essential that nothing else be worn� including underwear, feminine hygiene projects, jewelry, perfume, makeup, hairspray, after shave, nail polish, hearing aids, flammable materials or heart producing items, wigs and alcohol or petroleum-based products. |
| This outpatient therapy is painless. However, a patient may feel a fullness in the ears that happens when there is a change in pressure. Dramatic results can be seen in one to six weeks after the start of the HBOT treatment. Northwest Hospital is determined to continue its already strong presence as a community hospital with the latest technology. |
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