The Hyperbaric Chamber
A hyperbaric chamber is necessary to adjust
the ambient pressure required for hyperbaric
oxygen therapy.
At normal sea level pressure, breathing 100 percent
oxygen will not achieve healing results. Penn's
state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers allow us
to safely and effectively deliver 100 percent
oxygen at increased pressures.
Penn's Multiplace Chamber
At Penn, our hyperbaric chambers operate 24-hours-a-day
and multiple patients can be treated at the
same time. Penn hyperbaric medicine has one
of only a few multiplace chambers in the country
and the first one in the
tri-state area. Patients
can sit upright or recline comfortably in street
clothes while reading or watching a movie.
If necessary, the chamber can also accommodate
several patients on stretchers.
Penn's Multiplace Chamber
A nurse or paramedic trained
in hyperbaric medicine remains in the chamber
with the patients at all times. This chamber
attendant is in constant communication with the
attending physician and chamber operator during
the treatment.
The attending physician can "lock-in"
to the chamber and be at the patient's side in
less than one minute. Also, items such as
medications and medical supplies can
be passed in or out of the chamber, using a special
compartment.
Constant communication with physician and chamber operator
Advantages
A walk-in multiplace chamber helps dispel feelings
of claustrophobia and isolation, often associated
with monoplace (single patient) chambers. The
entire room-sized chamber is compressed with
air, not with oxygen, thus creating a much safer
environment than smaller monoplace chambers.
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