PeaceHealth Hyperbaric Center

The Hyperbaric Center at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center is one of three facilities in Oregon—and the only one in Lane County—accredited by the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society. UHMS national accreditation demonstrates our acheivement of the highest level of quality and safety for patient care. Hyperbaric Safety Director Robert Barnes, MD, is the region's only physician board-certified in both Infectious Diseases and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. And Belinda Hinkle, Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse, completes the team. Together, the Hyperbaric Center and the Wound & Ostomy Center at Sacred Heart provide comprehensive wound care.

Clinical Benefits of HBO2

Hyperoxygenation. HBO2 increases oxygen in the plasma 10 to 15 fold, delivering more oxygen to damaged tissue to promote healing.

Hyperoxia-enhanced antimicrobial activity. HBO2 can inhibit or inactivate certain toxins, enhance phagocytosis and white cell oxidative killing, and increase the activity of some antimicrobials.

Neovascularization. HBO2 enhances fibroblast division, stem cell proliferation, and formation of collagen and capillary angiogenesis in late radiation damaged tissue, refractory osteomyselitis and chronic ulcers.

Hyper-induced vasoconstriction. HBO2 helps manage compartment syndrome and other acute ischemia in injured extremities. It also reduces interstitial edema in grafted tissue and decreases fluid resuscitation requirements in burn wound management.

Attenuation of reperfusion injury. HBO2 has been shown to reduce the deleterious effect of leukocytes as blood flow is restored to damaged tissue.

How it Works

The Hyperbaric Center houses Sechrist Monoplace 4100 Hyperbaric Chambers, the largest hyperbaric monoplace chamber on the market. The chamber capabilities include multiple intravenous transfusion lines, electrical monitoring including EKG, transcutaneous oxygen monitoring and a patient air-break system.

Hyperbaric Center Staff

Kialing P. Perez, MD
Medical Director
Board-certified, Infectious Diseases
Advanced Training in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Certified Diving Medical Officer of the Diving Medical Advisory Committee

Jason Cronin, MD
Hyperbaric Attending Physician
Board-Certified, Infectious Diseases

Brenda Ormesher, MD
Hyperbaric Safety Director
Hyperbaric Attending Physician
Board-certified, Infectious Diseases

Robert K. Pelz, MD, PhD
Board-certified, Infectious Diseases, Advanced Training in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Referring a Patient

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is offered as a referral and consultation service only. A consultation appointment will be made for the patient, once appropriate case documentation has been received. The referring/primary care physician will remain responsible for the patient's general medical management and will be updated from a hyperbaric perspective by the hyperbaric oxygen therapy team. Out-of-town patients may be referred to an appropriate local physician at the discretion of the referring physician.

Watch on YouTube: Dr. Perez on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Physician Factsheets

• Printable factsheet about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
• Printable factsheet about our Wound Care Services

Treatment Indications

• Acute carbon monoxide poisoning
• Decompression sickness
• Late radiation tissue injury
• Problem wounds and diabetic foot lesions
• Osteoradionecrosis
• Chronic osteomyelitis
• Crush injury, compartment syndrome, other acute ischemia
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections
• Clostridial myonecrosis
• Cerebral arterial gas embolism

The Hyperbaric Center works in conjunction with Sacred Heart's Wound & Ostomy Center, which recently added the following services:

• Lymphedema wound management with lymphedema-certified physical therapist
• Total contact casting for diabetic foot management

Other Wound & Ostomy services include:

• Evaluation of wounds and development of a plan of care
• Pre- and post-op ostomy evaluation and plan of care
• Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment
• Pressure ulcer prevalence and incident monitoring
• Specialty support surface management