Is treatment in the hyperbaric chamber covered by the Healthcare Basket?
The Health Ministry has included 15 indications for hyperbaric chamber therapy in the Healthcare Basket.
The treatments covered by the Healthcare Basket include:
- Treatment of radiation-induced injury to soft tissue and bone
- Combination treatment, with rehabilitative surgery, after radiation therapy
- Treatment of refractory wounds, especially wounds resulting from hypoxic tissue, such as in venous insufficiency and diabetic foot.
- Burn treatment
- Treatment of treatment-resistant bone infections (refractory osteomyelitis, malignant otitis externa)
- Treatment of acute retinal artery obstruction
- Treatment of malignant otitis media
- Severe anemia
- Diving accidents (decompression sickness)
**Hyperbaric chamber therapy not covered by the Healthcare Basket:
- Treatment of bone necrosis - AVN
- Fibromyalgia
- Of post-CVA patients
- Cognitive therapy
- Treatment of sudden hearing loss
- Cases of post-concussion syndrome (PCS), due to traumatic brain injury, characterized by cognitive dysfunction (attention deficit disorder) and neurological deficiencies *This treatment is also indicated for children.
- *Treatment of children before and after hypospadias surgery for repairing a birth defect of the urethra.
- Treatments for children with cerebral palsy* (CP)
- *Treatment of children with perinatal asphyxia (anoxia)
*During treatment, children are accompanied by a parent to keep them calm.
**These treatments are paid for privately or covered by private health insurance.
Is hyperbaric chamber treatment appropriate for my case?
Hyperbaric chamber treatment is indicated for specific medical conditions. In order to determine if the treatment will be beneficial, fill out an online form including personal information, the reason for the referral, and medical documents regarding the referral.
A professional medical team will review the data and appropriateness and develop a customized treatment plan. A representative will contact you in order to make arrangements and give you instructions and the complete details. Please note that there are absolute and relative contraindications for each medical treatment. In other words, some patients cannot have hyperbaric chamber therapy.
Others can, but only after preliminary examinations.
Absolute contraindications for hyperbaric chamber therapy: untreated pneumothorax, use of chemotherapy drugs with toxicity exacerbated by hyperbaric oxygen, and pregnancy.
Relative contraindications for hyperbaric chamber therapy: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), sinusitis, fever, a recognized active epileptic site, claustrophobia, glaucoma (according to doctor’s orders).
What does the hyperbaric chamber treatment program include?
The treatment program includes a series of consecutive daily treatments, Sunday-Thursday. On each day of treatment, patients will spend two hours in the hyperbaric chamber.
A treatment plan is customized for each diagnosis:
Difficult-to-heal wounds and radiation-induced injury - 20 to 30 (and sometimes even 40) back-to-back treatments
Neurological and other diagnoses - a series of 60 back-to-back treatments
How is hyperbaric chamber therapy carried out?
The treatment sessions are daily and consecutive, Sunday-Thursday, at a set time. Each treatment session lasts for about two hours.
Arrive half an hour to an hour and a half prior to the treatment in order to have the following tests: pulse rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose for diabetic patients. These tests are also carried out after the treatment.
The hyperbaric chamber treatment begins exactly on time - Don’t be late!
Treatment dates will only be switched in extreme circumstances.
Do medical staff stay in the hyperbaric chamber during the treatment?
A nurse/paramedic will be present for each treatment session, and in each chamber, in order to give instructions and take care of the patients.
What can I bring into the chamber and what am I not allowed to bring?
- May be brought into the chamber: books, notebooks, magazines.
- Clothing: Do not wear materials that can generate static electricity, namely, polyester, fleece, and wool. Therefore, you must wear clothes made of at least 80% cotton. We also recommend bringing a warm sweater (cotton only).
- It is prohibited to bring the following into the hyperbaric chamber: flammable substances or fire accelerants, cellular phones, automobile remote controls, anything containing batteries, and newspapers.
- Do not bring in food or drink - water will be distributed to the patients.
Can you exit the chamber in order to use the restroom or eat during the treatment?
You cannot leave the chamber during the treatment, except in emergency situations.
How should I prepare for hyperbaric chamber treatment?
We recommend you eat a light meal and go to the restroom prior to entering the hyperbaric chamber.
Can a friend/relative stay in the hyperbaric chamber with me?
We recommend you bring a friend/relative to the introductory coordination meeting.
During treatment, infants and children requiring supervision may be accompanied by a parent. If an adult needs someone to accompany them in the hyperbaric chamber, the medical team will take it into consideration.
How does being inside the hyperbaric chamber feel?
Hyperbaric chamber treatment is not painful! Treatment in a hyperbaric chamber is completely safe. The feeling in the hyperbaric chamber is similar to what we experience during an airplane’s takeoff. Therefore, you may feel pressure in your ears. You can overcome it by drinking water or popping your ears.
What is pressure equalization?
When the pressure is increased inside the chamber, the patient will actively equalize it by popping his/her ears, chewing gum, or drinking water (water will be distributed to the patients). The patient will be comprehensively trained on the subject prior to entering the chamber, as well as when they are inside the chamber. The nurse will verify that the technique is being carried out properly.
Does hyperbaric chamber treatment have side effects?
There are relatively few possible side effects and the majority of them will pass:
- Decreased blood sugar - Therefore, blood glucose values are checked for all diabetic patients with less than 100 mg/dL. We recommend you eat before entering the chamber.
- Increased blood pressure - Anyone with blood pressure higher than 170/90 will wait for a little while until they have relaxed and can enter the chamber. Therefore, we recommend you are meticulous about taking blood pressure medication.
- The most common side effect is ear pain, and it can be avoided by popping your ears correctly. If you do experience ear pain, it passes within a few days.
Rare side effects:
- Air enters the space between the lungs and the chest wall - pneumothorax
- Oxygen poisoning which can lead to temporary seizures
- Temporary nearsightedness due to transient changes in the lenses of the eyes.
What happens if an emergency occurs inside the hyperbaric chamber?
A team member trained to deal with emergency situations is stationed in each chamber. If an emergency situation occurs, a doctor will guide the treatment process from outside the chamber or will enter the chamber to administer treatment. If necessary, it’s possible to transfer a patient who is not feeling well to a transition chamber or shut down the chamber in a regulated manner and remove the patient.
