How We Work
Our Standards: Medical-Grade, Physician-Directed HBOT
At Generations Wellness, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is physician-directed and medical-grade. Every patient has a physician assessment first, every session runs in a hard-shell monoplace chamber with staff in contact throughout, and we only describe HBOT for uses the evidence supports. Here is exactly what that means.
The Equipment
What "Medical-Grade" Means, and Why It Matters
"Hyperbaric" gets used for very different things, so it helps to be precise. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) defines hyperbaric oxygen therapy as breathing near-100% oxygen while inside a chamber pressurized to at least 1.4 times normal atmospheric pressure (1.4 ATA). Every UHMS-recognized indication calls for 2.0 ATA or more.
Soft-sided "mild" chambers usually run at about 1.3 ATA on regular air. The UHMS says they do not meet the definition of HBOT. That isn't a judgment about anyone who uses them; it is simply a different category. To see the differences side by side, read hard-shell vs. soft-shell chambers compared.
Our chambers
We treat patients in hard-shell monoplace chambers. "Monoplace" means one person per chamber. Inside, you breathe medical-grade oxygen at a pressure your physician prescribes for your plan. Staff stay in communication with you for the whole session.
The pressure is a medical decision, not a menu setting. Your physician chooses it based on your condition and how you tolerate treatment, and it can change as your plan is reviewed.
The Process
Physician-Directed, From First Call to Last Session
Care at Generations Wellness is directed by Dr. Rajwinder Singh Bahia, MD. "Physician-directed" is not a slogan here. It describes how every course works, and one rule sits above the rest: no one begins HBOT at our center without a physician assessment.
- First conversation. You or your doctor's office calls. We listen to what's going on and explain what an assessment involves, including cost.
- Physician assessment. Your history, medications and current treatment are reviewed. Your physician checks whether your condition is a recognized indication for HBOT, screens for reasons HBOT may not be safe for you, and talks through your goals.
- A clear treatment plan. If HBOT is appropriate, the plan sets the pressure, session length and expected number of sessions, and when progress will be reviewed. If it isn't appropriate, you'll hear that plainly.
- Supervision and review. Sessions follow the physician's plan, and progress is reviewed along the way so the plan can be adjusted, continued or stopped.
To learn more about the practice, visit our about page. For a step-by-step look at a first visit, see what a physician assessment and first session involve.
Safety
Mandatory Screening and Monitoring
Screening before every course
HBOT is not right for everyone. Before any course, your physician screens for conditions that can make pressure or high oxygen levels risky. That includes lung problems such as an untreated collapsed lung (the one absolute contraindication), ear and sinus problems, seizure history, certain chemotherapy and other medications, pregnancy, and implanted devices. The full list is on our page about who should not use a hyperbaric chamber.
Monitoring during every session
You are never left alone in a chamber. Trained staff stay in communication with you throughout, watch how you are doing, and can pause or end a session if you are uncomfortable. We explain how to clear your ears before you start, because ear pressure is the most common side effect.
What goes into the chamber
A 100% oxygen environment calls for strict rules. Before your session, the team explains what can and cannot go inside. In general that means suitable clothing and nothing that could spark or burn, such as electronics, lighters or hand warmers, and no oil-based lotions or hair products. Read what to wear and what to leave outside the chamber.
Side effects we always discuss
HBOT has real side effects, and we name them up front. The most common are ear or sinus pressure and discomfort. Some people notice temporary nearsightedness, which usually resolves after treatment ends, and some feel tired or anxious in an enclosed space. Serious effects, such as an oxygen-toxicity seizure, are rare; StatPearls reports roughly 1 per 5,000 to 10,000 treatments.
Honest Claims
We Only Say What the Evidence Supports
HBOT is marketed for many things. We hold ourselves to a narrower standard:
- We describe HBOT as a treatment only for recognized indications: conditions on the FDA's cleared list or the UHMS indications list.
- For other uses, we summarize the research, including its limits, and say clearly that the use is not cleared. See what the research says about non-cleared uses.
- We report study results as findings, with the study named. We never turn them into promises about your outcome.
- We say "FDA-cleared" because hyperbaric chambers are medical devices cleared for specific conditions. Calling HBOT "FDA-approved" as a blanket phrase is not accurate, so we don't.
- We don't publish outcome statistics of our own or testimonials that promise results.
The rules we follow when writing are set out in how we write about HBOT.
Coordination
Working With the Doctors You Already Have
HBOT is used as an adjunct. It works alongside the care you already receive, such as wound care, antibiotics, surgery or cancer follow-up. It does not replace any of it. With your permission, we coordinate with your doctors so everyone knows the plan, and we can request records with your consent.
You don't need a referral to ask for an assessment. If your doctor would like to refer you, their office can refer a patient directly.
Straight Answers
What We Will Tell You Honestly
- When HBOT isn't indicated for you, even if you came in hoping it would be.
- When a hospital is the right place. We are an outpatient center and do not treat emergencies. Read about emergencies treated at hospital chambers.
- How payment works. We are self-pay today and do not bill insurance yet. If you may qualify for coverage elsewhere, we'll say so.
- That results vary. No one can promise how your body will respond, and we won't pretend otherwise.
Important
A physician assessment is required before beginning HBOT at Generations Wellness. HBOT complements, and never replaces, the treatment prescribed by your doctors.
Questions
Our Standards: Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in an HBOT facility?
Look for a hard-shell chamber, a named physician who assesses you before treatment, staff who monitor every session, clear screening, and a willingness to say which conditions HBOT is not cleared for. Our guide on how to choose a hyperbaric clinic goes further.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
No. Our physician can assess you directly, and with your consent we coordinate with your existing doctors.
Are hyperbaric chambers a fire risk?
A high-oxygen environment makes fire safety critical, which is why strict rules apply to clothing and anything that could spark. Those rules are explained before every session and must be followed.
Is HBOT FDA approved?
Hyperbaric chambers are FDA-cleared medical devices for specific conditions. HBOT has not been proven safe or effective for other uses, so a blanket "FDA-approved" label is not accurate.
Who decides the pressure and number of sessions?
Your physician. Both are set in your treatment plan and reviewed as you progress.
Sources
- Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Position Statement on Low-Pressure Fabric Hyperbaric Chambers. uhms.org
- Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications. uhms.org
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Get the Facts. fda.gov
- StatPearls. Hyperbaric Complications. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- StatPearls. Hyperbaric contraindications. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This page is educational and not medical advice. A physician assessment is required before HBOT. See our full medical disclaimer.
Your Next Step
Begin With a Physician Assessment
Every course starts with an honest conversation and a physician assessment. No pressure, no obligation.
Prefer to talk? (369) 222-0979