Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinics of Santa Monica
 and Sacramento (opening soon)
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic of Santa Monica is the leading west coast freestanding center specializing in the treatment of all main-stream applications of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Though your needs of recovery may be for plastic surgery healing, selected problems wounds, a migraine, or Lyme Disease, we also have many years of experience working in the area of brain injury and neurological disorders.
Our facility’s primary focus for the past several years has been offering new hope to hundreds of children living with special needs like Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Near Drowning and other types of brain injury. We also are known for our work in the area of "brain attacks" otherwise known as stroke. In fact, the clinic was featured on the independently produced Discovery Channel Special, "The Healing Chamber" for its work with pediatric brain injured children. (you can purchase a copy of this video through this website).
Today, we are expanding to open the Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic of Sacramento (mid-2003). This clinic is already a thought leader for medical experts to support brain injured and general medicine patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapies (HBOT). It is near downtown Sacramento and next to the University of David Medical Campus which supports the world renown M.I.N.D. Institute for autism research and therapies and the well known Shriners Hospital for pediatric burn victims and cerebral palsy children.
The Facilities
In Santa Monica our state-of-the-art, mono-place facility, is staffed by highly qualified medical professionals with years of experience in the field of Hyperbaric Medicine.
Both clinics use Sechrist Mono-place chambers that provide maximum room and comfort to the patient, while allowing technicians to directly monitor and communicate with patients.
SPECT Scans
We are two of four hyperbaric centers in the United States that actively use SPECT Scan Imaging as a diagnostic tool before and after therapy as part of our treatment plan for our patients. We are privileged to be working closely with Dr. Michael Uszler, (UCLA) renown for his work and expertise in hyperbaric oxygen therapy and SPECT Scan imaging as it relates to brain injury. Dr. Uszler has presented research on SPECT scans for CP and Brain Injured patients at various international medical symposiums.
Both clinics also have established a relationship with the Amen Clinics located in both Northern & Southern California. Dr. Daniel Amen has focused his practice on evaluating and treating children with ADHD, ADD, autism and other related maladies. Dr. Amen has written approximately 20 books on the subject and is re-known for his work and results.
( some of Dr. Amen’s work can be seen at http://www.brainplace.com )
Clinics’ Staff
Our friendly staff, Dr. John Cassidy, Medical Director, Robert Sponsler, Safety Officer, Chief Hyperbaric Technician, Andrew Beal, Hyperbaric Technician and Ed Nemeth, Child Advocate, are all here to assist you in answering your questions by phone or email. We have an extensive library of information including our patient and physician packages for stroke, CP and many other conditions.
Scheduling
Consultations may be done, by simply picking up the phone and contacting us at:
310-260-0033 Santa Monica Clinic
916-856-7050 x339 Sacramento Clinic
Locations
Our patients come to us from all over the United States, as well as other countries from around the world, therefore we are accustomed to a variety of needs. We are conveniently located near the Los Angeles Airport and just blocks away from the beautiful Santa Monica Beach and parks. We have special arrangements with many of the local hotels for your convenience. Consultations may be done, by simply picking up the phone.
The Sacramento clinic is 15 minutes for the Sacramento International Airport and next to the University of California, Davis Medical Campus and close to a number of hotels. Sacramento is well known as the Capital of California, as well as for the wide variety of unique places to visit within 1-2 hours - including "Old Sacramento", San Francisco, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, to names just a few.
Referral Process
How are Patients Referred for Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments?
Patients are referred for Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments (HBOT) through a variety of private practicioners, surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, and other physicians, as well as through self-referral. The HBOT Clinic of Santa Monica has a world renown reputation and receives patients from countries as far away as Kuwait, England, and Singapore. Our largest referral source is through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied patients who felt that HBOT was valuable in treating their condition and found the clinic to be professional, comfortable, and convenient.
What if I Don't Have a Doctor to Refer Me?
Patients or parents of children who are self-referred for HBOT must first make an appointment with Dr. Cassidy to review their conditions and appropriateness of HBOT. This review appointment can be achieved through an interview in person, or through a telephone consultation if travel is difficult.
Specialized Evaluation
If HBOT is deemed reasonable and appropriate, they must then have a physical exam for contraindications. Additionally, new patients must fill out a comprehensive questionnaire, and participate in a detailed clinical interview. Also, it is suggested that brain injury patients (cerebral palsy, stroke, autism, traumatic brain injury, near drowning) undergo a brain SPECT scan (Single Photon Emission Computer Tomopgraphy) to better understand the complexities and extent of the brain injuries as well as have a base line to determine if tissue health improvement is measurable. SPECT scans are not required for treatment, however. Both new and returning patients (returning after a significant break) must have a physical exam prior to HBOT.
Costs and Reimbursement
The cost of a complete evaluation are reviewed above is by the Medical Director is $150.00 (includes concentration and baseline scans). A consultation by phone will cost $100.00 per half hour. The costs for SPECT scans vary depending on the amount of sedation required for the patient, but, under normal circumstances are approximately $1,000 per scan (both before and after HBOT SPECT scans required).
Reimbursement for both the SPECT scans and HBOT vary widely between insurance companies, and of course require a physician’s prescription to be reimbursed. Also, reimbursement varies for indication / condition. Most plans reimburse for 14 specific indications, but will not reimburse for other indications.
GENERAL CONDITIONS:
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinics of Santa Monica and Sacramento treat a wide variety of reimbursed and non-reimbursed conditions and illnesses. Below is a limited list of conditions treated, as well as nominal explanations of the treatment and response rationale.
I Neurological Indications
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy results in significant numbers of handicapped children today, and its causes are many. These brain injuries are due to oxygen deprivation with resultant tissue hypoxia due to poor oxygen delivery and uptake in the brain. These abnormalities can be documented by brain SPECT Scans that demonstrate central nervous system areas of decreased brain perfusion and function.
HBOT usually administered in blocks of 40 low pressure 1 hour sessions can improve gross motor function as well as having beneficial effects on performance and activities of daily living, attention, working memory, speech and language. Beneficial effects on seizure frequency and severity are often noted. Post treatment brain SPECT scanning is recommended and can demonstrate improvements in delivery of oxygen to see the deprived areas. (See Rebecca N.’s testimony)
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI’s)
TBI’s can be complex, devastating to the patients’ life, as well as to the family. Yet, HBOT can help a number of TBI patients by restoring general brain health, reversing ischemia (tissues lacking adequate blood flows and oxygenation) and supporting rehabilitation. SPECT scan documentation is useful for evaluating central nervous system response to HBOT. (See David B’s Testimony)
Autism
Autism cases have skyrocketed in the past decade and is now the third most prominent developmental condition of children today. While there remains considerable controversy in mainstream medicine about the etiology of autism (how it originates and manifests itself) there is clear quantitative diagnostic documentation that autism results in brain lesions that can be demonstrated through SPECT scanning. These brain lesions are reversible through HBOT and can result in improved health, better socialization, and faster responses to supportive therapies (see Christian H.’s Testimony)
Unfortunately, while HBOT for pediatric brain injuries and cerebral palsy have been heavily researched and documented, very little has been done to evaluate HBOT for autism. Of 36 autistic patients treated with HBOT, 35 showed good to excellent responses to HBOT. A few children were able to gain speech (one word) within a week, and communicate in three word sentences within a couple of weeks. Most demonstrated improved social skills and developed the ability to interact with others during the block of HBOT sessions.
HBOT usually administered after chelation therapies (to remove heavy toxic metals) in blocks of 40 low pressure 1 hour sessions and supports greater and faster improvements with ancillary behavioral therapies. (See Christian H.’s Testimony)
Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury
The most important factors in a stroke patient’s recovery is the extent of the infarct and of the penumbra, the region that surrounds the infarct. The presence of viable brain tissue in the penumbra explains why the initial symptoms do not always predict how much function the patient will eventually recover. Key attributes of HBOT are that it decreases swelling and reawakens the stunned neurons within the penumbra by providing them with oxygen. Activation of these neurons explains why patients can show improvement when HBOT is administered years after a stroke occurs. Many stroke patients have stunned but living brain cells, which are especially common in cases, where imaging studies show the presence of potentially recoverable brain tissue. The revival of non-functional neurons is HBOT’s most notable effect in cases of stroke. (See: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy by Richard Neubauer)
Migraines and Cluster Headaches
Researchers Fife and Fife have found that HBOT is helpful in treating Migraine and cluster headaches. HBOT has been shown to decrease the severity and frequency in attacks significantly.
Tinnitus
Several studies have shown that HBO therapy reduces Tinnitus following acute acoustic trauma, providing it is started within a few days after the trauma.
Multiple Sclerosis
HBOT is the only treatment that offers the MS patient relief of "symptoms" with no serious side effects. HBOT has been the therapy used on the largest number of patients for the longest period of time, having the longest period of follow-up results. (See: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy by Richard Neubauer)
II Surgery and Wound Healing
Cosmetic Surgery
In most cases, HBOT has been shown to speed up the healing process for patients undergoing face lifts, laser or chemical peels, breast surgery, tummy tucks, and many other reconstruction procedures. One of the most widely known benefits in the use of HBOT is that it shortens the recovery time by almost 50%, thus reducing pain and swelling.
Patients who are smokers do not heal as well as non-smokers therefore it is often advised by the physician to receive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy before and after their surgical procedure. Hand in hand our facility works with many well-known plastic surgery centers hence confidentiality is a must
Non-Healing Wounds
Problem wounds are those that fail to respond to usual medical and surgical treatment. These wounds are usually associated with diabetic feet, traumatic wounds and ulcers due to inadequate blood supply.
HBOT provides a significant increase in tissue oxygenation in these poorly vascularized, infected wounds. This elevation in oxygen levels in these tissues induces significant positive changes in the wound repair process.
HBOT promotes wound healing by enhancing fibroblast growth, collagen synthesis and growth of new blood vessels, as well as its effect of killing many bacteria. The greatest benefits are achieved in tissues with compromised blood flow and oxygen supply. (UHMS "Committee Report")
"Inflammation of the bone": Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can play an integral role in the effective management of refractory osteomyelitis. Where Oxygen tension in osteomyelitic bone is low, HBOT is not only clinically effective but also significantly cost effective. Sixty to eighty-five-percent of patients who failed to respond to years of costly repetitive surgery and antibiotic care have had infections successfully arrested when HBOT was administered along with intensive surgical and antibiotic therapy.
Radiation damage causes hypoxia, or lack of oxygen in the body’s tissue. Hyperbaric Oxygen helps fight this damage by increasing the amount of oxygen in the tissue, which aids in the recovery. For example, extra oxygen stimulates the skin to form new collagen, the basic building material in wound healing. New collagen, in turn, enhances the formation of new capillaries, supporting skin graphs and allowing small skin ulcers to heal over. HBOT’s usefulness in treating radiation tissue damage was first reported in the medical literature in 1973, and it has continued to be documented in many other reports.
Crush injuries and suturing of severed limbs
Tissues associated with these injuries are generally hypoxic, lacking adequate circulation due to damaged capillaries, clotting and other circulatory blockages, leading to reduced tissue oxygen levels. HBOT shortens the recovery time by as much as 30-50% and greatly reduces pain.
HBOT supports super-oxygenation of the blood serum (not Red Blood Cells), thus enabling oxygen to diffuse through damaged tissues at that molecular level. HBOT reduces edema (swelling) within minutes and also causes angio-genesis within the first 15-20 minutes of treatment.
III Bacterial And Infectious Diseases
Anaerobic Infections
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with appropriate antibiotics has been shown to manage and reverse serious anaerobic infections, such as gas gangrene and progressive necrotizing infections such as necrotizing fasciitis. HBOT is generally only used as an adjunct to conventional therapy when the disease process is non-responsive to antibiotics and surgical treatment.
Lymes disease
When Lyme becomes chronic and the spirochete is sequestered in cells, the cells may protect the spirochete against the antibiotic, making it less effective. However, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with an antibiotic regime has shown significant improvement of the quality of life, long after all other treatments have failed. It has been shown that the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi is a facultative anaerobic organism, which can survive in an oxygen partial pressure of 35 mg Hg, but not in an oxygen partial pressure of 160mg Hg. By forcing higher levels of oxygen into the body’s cells, this oxygen can act against the Lyme spirochete.
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