As IHA Members I want to ensure that you are up to speed on the entire HBOT landscape including research, trends and news that are directly related to the hyperbaric community at-large. With this, I have spoken with several member clinics in the state of Georgia this week with reports of clinics being closed by the state Fire Marshall and the IHA is currently monitoring the progress of what is transpiring throughout the U.S. involving recent actions by state and local fire departments with regard to portable soft walled chambers.

Based on our initial investigation it appears that these actions are a result of a dedicated disinformation campaign launched by the UHMS as an attack on what appears to be all soft walled chambers.

The IHA concludes at this time that unfounded and false information is being provided to local and state Fire Marshalls with the intent of closing clinics. We are dedicated to continuing our investigation to resolve these issues and work with the proper authorities to provide accurate information.

Our goal is to reverse any regulations that have negatively impacted our members and establish a long-term relationship with individuals and associations responsible for upholding policies at state, regional and local levels.

In the meantime, while we work to address this issue we ask that IHA Members, if you receive any communication or visit from local/state fire department officials regarding the use of your soft walled chambers, that you contact the IHA immediately. Please contact Membership Coordinator, Annalisse Bohan (annalisse@ihausa.org).

Additionally, we are very aware of all the non-FDA approved soft walled chambers in the marketplace and have been working diligently with the appropriate associations and other officials to support the closure of any clinics using non-FDA approved chambers. The IHA is committed to working with the FDA and ASME to ensure the field of Hyperbaric medicine can continue to grow in a safe and effective manner.

Thanks for your continued support, we will continue to share more details as this situation continues to develop.

Onward!

-Shannon Kenitz