Hyperbaric Medicine and

Wound Care Center

The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is a state-of-the-art, comprehensive wound care service that offers the most modern treatment for difficult, chronic wounds. The Center takes a multi-disciplinary approach to wound care that offers patients extensive treatment from a professional team of physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, nurses, physical therapists, nutritional counselors and social services.

Wound care at Southern Ocean County Hospital facilitates treatment by utilizing the most advanced modalities and bringing a team of medical professionals to the patient.

Treatments include:

• Hydrotherapy
• Wound Cleansing & Wound Dressing
• Pulse Volume Recordings (PVRs)
• Electric Stimulation
• Doppler Studies
• Patient Education
• Hyperbaric Medicine

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment in which the entire body is under increased atmospheric pressure and the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen. This treatment is administered in a pressurized chamber. It is proven effective for a number of different medical and surgical conditions, either as a primary treatment or in addition to other medical treatments such as antibiotics or surgery.

The Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at SOCH features a single-person (monoplace) chamber. The chamber is approximately eight feet long and about 34 inches wide.

Normally the atmosphere exerts 14.7 pounds per square inch of pressure at sea level. This is equivalent to one atmosphere absolute (1 ATA). In this atmosphere, a person breathes approximately 20% oxygen and 80% nitrogen. During HBOT, the pressure is increased two or three times more than normal and the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen. Most patients are treated at two times the normal atmospheric pressure (2 ATA).

The combined effects of highly concentrated oxygen and increased pressure cause large amounts of oxygen to be dissolved in the patient’s blood and other tissue fluids. There can be as much as 10 to 15 times the usual amount of oxygen dissolved in the patient’s blood, which gets much more oxygen to the rest of the body.

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