FL hospitals adding hyperbaric chambers

Hyperbaric chambers entered the pop-culture scene when supermarket tabloids featured pictures of Michael Jackson reportedly sleeping in one. In Volusia County, hyperbaric treatment is used primarily to heal chronic wounds, and it's a growing part of the local healthcare landscape. Hospitals have been adding or expanding hyperbaric treatment primarily in response to rising rates of diabetes and an aging population. The chambers are also used frequently to treat people who suffered burns or tissue damage from radiation treatment. Halifax Health Medical Center started offering hyperbaric treatment earlier this month and maintains two chambers at its Daytona Beach facility. The hospital invested $500,000 to offer the service.