Back in 2011, our CEO Mike Comer wrote a blog post about whether to rent or buy a hyperbaric chamber for an outpatient wound care program, and that post continues to generate interest to this day. Since that time, our industry has experienced many changes, but the interest and need for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is still very much alive.In 2018, an audit by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) resulted in a decrease in HBOT volumes and an increase in the number of used hyperbaric chambers available for sale. As a result, existing centers looking to add HBOT to their service lines have a very affordable purchasing option.The OIG action shouldn’t dissuade a wound center from adding HBOT, as it remains a key component of any advanced wound care program. However, it’s more important than ever to be cognizant of compliance and fastidious with all documentation. For many chronic wound patients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers a lifeline that helps them avoid a lower limb amputation and increased mortality risk.
How Much Does a Hyperbaric Chamber Cost?
Once our partners make the decision to add a hyperbaric chamber to their wound care program, we’re often asked if they should rent or buy. If budget is an issue, it’s a smart strategy to take advantage of the deals you can get and look into buying a used chamber. They are usually in great working condition and much more cost-effective vs. purchasing a new one. A brand new chamber typically costs more than $100,000, and a used chamber costs about half of that. As precious as capital budget dollars are, that could make all the difference in terms of whether or not to develop a full-service wound center including HBOT.If you’re looking for a used hyperbaric chamber for sale, Hyperbaric Clearing House is a great place to start. Hyperbaric chambers have a 15-year depreciable lifespan and are mostly pneumatic machines, which means very few parts will need to be replaced over time.You can anticipate spending at least $2,000 per year in annual maintenance per chamber. The fundamentals of owning a chamber or having a management company provide them remains the same, but the cost of ownership is reduced.Again, here’s the original blog post entitled “Hyperbaric Chambers: Should You Buy Your Own?” by our CEO Mike Comer. Even though it’s a bit dated, I highly recommend reading it - whether you’re expanding your current service line to include HBOT or launching a new wound care program.As always, if you have questions or need help making a decision on whether to purchase a single hyperbaricchamber, or if you'd like information on building a wound care program from scratch, give us a call at 888-484-3922.
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