Hyperbaric Medicine

Welcome to the Hyperbaric Medicine Department of Rapid City Regional Hospital. Hyperbaric Medicine is staffed by experienced, highly-trained nurses and respiratory therapists. Hyperbaric Medicine also has fully-credentialed physicians to answer your questions 24 hours each day.

Rapid City Regional Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine
has two operational monoplace chambers

(Photo provided courtesy/permission of Perry Baromedical)

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that is used to treat a limited but diverse series of illnesses. It may be the primary treatment for some disorders, but is often used as part of a combined program involving antibiotics and surgery. In order to provide patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy a pressurized, see-through chamber is necessary. The patient is placed in the chamber, which is then compressed to the level ordered by the consulting hyperbaric physician, using pure oxygen. By using pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, we are able to give your body 2-3 times more oxygen than can be provided by breathing 100% oxygen with no increase in pressure. This “hyperbaric” (or high pressure) oxygen offers distinct therapeutic benefits.

Dr. Patrick Tibbles is the Medical Director for Hyperbaric Medicine. He is a Board Certified Emergency Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine physician, with extensive military/civilian diving medicine and physiology training.

Common Questions
How to Prepare