The International Hyperbaric Medical Association (IHMA)

The mission of the International Hyperbaric Medical Association (IHMA) is to improve public health by implementing high ethical and scientific standards for hyperbaric medicine; promoting sound hyperbaric research and treatment protocols; educating the medical community, the general public, decision makers and policy experts about the benefits of hyperbaric medicine and adjunctive therapies; and working to make HBOT more universally available and affordable. We believe these efforts will eventually lead to most hospitals in America having a hyperbaric center available for both inpatient and outpatient treatments. Collectively, we can increase access to safe and effective hyperbaric oxygen therapy across the globe.

The IHMA has already achieved significant milestones toward the accomplishment of its goals. In 2001, the IHMA successfully submitted diabetic foot wound treatment to CMS for a National Coverage Determination. The purpose was to greatly improve patient outcomes and at the same time, create an environment favorable to the training of new practitioners and to the creation of new hyperbaric centers in hospitals and clinics. Over the past 11 years, the IHMA’s mission has been partially realized as there are now almost twice as many hyperbaric centers and hundreds of newly trained hyperbaric healthcare practitioners.