Clark Regional Medical Center Offers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Veterans

November 3, 2021, Winchester, KY - Clark Regional Medical Center in Winchester, Kentucky has partnered with Wound Care Advantage and Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Kentucky Veterans, Inc. (HBOT4KYVETS, Inc.), to provide greater access to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) under KRS 217.930-942. Clark Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in Kentucky to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment to veterans. An estimated 12,000 veterans with traumatic brain injuries residing in Kentucky could benefit from this treatment.

The treatment program involves 40 one-hour sessions where participants breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber once per day. The treatment accelerates tissue healing by increasing oxygenation of 700-1100% concentrations to the blood stream. HBOT4KYVETS, Inc., a 501(C)(3) non-profit, is funding the treatments for a limited number of veterans with TBI or PTSD.  Kentucky VA Commissioner Allen and the Kentucky Veterans Program Trust Fund Board provided a grant award in September to help augment HBOT4KYVETS treatment funds. Nineteen successful trials have been completed since 2007 to over 750 veterans and patients.

Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt Sammy Lee Davis is one veteran who is sold on the treatment. “Hyperbaric oxygen treatment has improved my mind, my body…it’s amazing! Breathing 100% oxygen under pressure makes your whole body repair itself. I would like to have every veteran be able to experience this.” Read more about Sgt. Davis’s story at https://treatnow.org/success-stories/video-gallery/veterans/#TB_inline?width=655&height=410&inlineId=video-id-8257

Under the Kentucky law enacted in 2018, a veteran is eligible for hyperbaric oxygen therapy if they have a TBI diagnosis from a health care provider, a medical prescription written for HBOT from their provider, the veteran gives written consent for the use of HBOT, and they have the ability to pay for treatments.

“The selfless men and women who serve in uniform protecting our freedom deserve to have every available health care option to them. We encourage veterans and our community to support this treatment and consider donating to our cause to help those who served our country,” stated Eric Koleda, Founder and Director for HBOT4KYVETS, Inc.

Clark Regional Medical Center is partnering with Wound Care Advantage, its hyperbaric medicine management partner, as part of the HBOT4KYVETS, Inc treatment program. For more information, call the Wound Care Center at 859-737-6655 or HBOT4KYVETS at 502-938-1300. HBOT4KYVETS, Inc. is seeking additional support from government, private and the public sector for treating veterans of Kentucky. Visit their website at HBOT4KYVETS.com to donate.