The Life Support Technologies group (LST) has
successfully taught its 29th “Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine” course, October
17-21, 2014, which is accredited by both the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical
Society (UHMS) and the National Board of Diving & Hyperbaric Medical
Technology (NDBHMT). LST provides the 40-hour
course 4 times a year at hospital partner facilities.
Next year’s
course dates and venues at LST partner medical facilities are: February 27 –
March 3, 2015 at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY; April 24-28, 2015 at
St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center, Hartford, CT; June 5-9, 2015 at Good
Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Suffern, NY; October 16-20, 2015 at Nassau
University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY.
Forty attendees successfully completed an intensive 5-day
“Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine” course, October 17-21, 2014, at the LST
Partner facility, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY. Course attendees
came primarily from the CT-NY-NJ Tri-State area; one attendee travelled from the
South American nation of Ecuador. The
well-rounded group of course participants included Physicians, Physician
Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, Paramedics,
and Emergency Medical Technicians. Core course
faculty include: Glenn J. Butler, CEO; Edward Golembe, M.D.; Scott Gorenstein,
M.D.; Jody C. DiGiacomo, M.D., Donovan T. Rosas, M.D.; David Charash, D.O.; Jay
G. Levine, D.P.M.; Mark Chipps, CHT; Michael Merrow, CHT, and Training Director
Bernie Chowdhury, CHT; all of whom are Hyperbaric Board certified.
Hyperbaric Medical treatment involves putting a patient
in a specially designed vessel known as a hyperbaric chamber that can be
pressurized greater than atmospheric pressure. The patient breathes 100% oxygen
while under increased pressure. Monoplace hyperbaric chambers are the most
common and are designed to treat one patient at a time. Multiplace chambers are
purpose-built and can accommodate as many patients as they are built for.
Hyperbaric chamber construction standards are established and published by the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Pressure Vessel for Human
Occupancy (PVHO) Committee.
Currently, in the United States, the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) approve hyperbaric treatment for fifteen (15)
medical indications. Most commercial insurance carriers follow CMS guidelines
for hyperbaric treatment reimbursement.
Conditions covered by CMS include: acute carbon monoxide intoxication;
decompression illness; gas embolism; gas gangrene; acute traumatic peripheral
ischemia; crush injuries and suturing of severed limbs; progressive necrotizing
infections (necrotizing fasciitis); acute peripheral arterial insufficiency;
preparation and preservation of compromised skin grafts (not for primary
management of wounds); chronic refractory osteomyelitis, unresponsive to
conventional medical and surgical management; osteoradionecrosis as an adjunct
to conventional treatment; soft tissue radionecrosis as an adjunct to
conventional treatment; cyanide poisoning; actinomycosis, only as an adjunct to
conventional therapy when the disease process is refractory to antibiotics and
surgical treatment; diabetic wounds of the lower extremities in patients who
meet certain criteria.
The LST course meets the new CMS-mandated educational
guidelines for hyperbaric education; it provides the foundation for Physicians,
Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists,
Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, Hyperbaric Technicians, and other
clinical professional who are either working in, or planning to enter, the
field of Hyperbaric Medicine. The course
is a pathway toward achieving professional certification in this growing field.
The Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) is
the primary source of scientific information for diving and hyperbaric medicine
physiology worldwide and functions as the governing body for the industry. Organizations that present UHMS approved
courses are rigorously screened and must adhere to strict guidelines and
standards. The first LST course was
developed by the late Eric P. Kindwall, M.D., author of several prominent books
that continue to be used for medical training.
Considered by many to be the “Father of Hyperbaric Medicine,” Dr.
Kindwall was the developer and Director of courses presented by LST until
2008. Dr. Kindwall’s contributions to
LST and to its educational programs are considerable.
Physicians (MD
and DO) who attend and participate in the entire course are awarded 40
Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, which are granted by the UHMS.
Allied health professionals (including those who are DPM, PhD, NP, PA, EMT,
Paramedic, RN, LPN, RT, RRT) who attend and participate in the entire course
are awarded 40 Continuing Education Units (CEU), which are granted by the
NBDHMT.
For more information see:
American Society of Mechanical
Engineers (ASME)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS)
National
Board of Diving & Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NDBHMT)
Undersea
& Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)
About the Life Support Technologies Group (LST)
The Life Support Technologies Group (LST) is a Tarrytown,
NY-based medical and life-support engineering company specializing in Advanced
Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Services to hospitals in the NY, NJ, CT region. LST has been in business for 20 years and
currently provides services to 9 hospitals.
Glenn
Butler, CEO
Life
Support Technologies Group
(914)
333-8412
