National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology
Encyclopedia
National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT), formally known as the National Association of Diving Technicians, is a non-profit organization
devoted to the education and certification of qualified personnel in the fields of diving
and hyperbaric medicine.
sponsored an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
workshop in 1975 to look at the needs for Emergency Medical Technician
s (EMT) for the treatment of diving related injuries
. This workshop established a need for medically trained personnel in offshore diving operations as well as suggested training standards for EMT divers. Following this workshop, attempts were made to incorporate a "Diver Medic Training Program" into existing paramedic
curriculums. This proved to be impossible due to the "esoteric nature of undersea medicine, and its geographically and medically remote applications.
In response to this need, the National Association of Diving Technicians was formed in 1981 and introduced a certification
program for all technologists working in the field, as well as establishing an introductory training course curriculum standard for those desiring to enter the field.
In 1991, the National Association of Diving Technicians set out to establish a new certification program for hyperbaric technologists and changed their name to the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology.
Certification through the NBDHMT is required by some Medicare's
regional intermediaries to be reimbursable for transcutaneous oxygen measurements.
In June 2009, the NBDHMT moved their home office from Harvey, Louisiana
to Columbia, South Carolina
.
found on remote work sites. The comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of topics from barotrauma
to treatment of decompression sickness
.
DMT's have been taking a larger role in traditional hyperbaric oxygenation facilities in the United States. In a survey of 176 monoplace hyperbaric chamber facilities, the mean number of full-time DMTs was 1.43 while the number of part time DMTs was 1.83 persons.
within the department and generalized clinical knowledge to administer the clinical treatments.
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics from hyperbaric chamber operations to transcutaneous oxygen monitoring.
for registered nurse
s. Hyperbaric nursing
challenges nurses "to provide safe, cost-effective, quality patient care, according to established standards."
Hyperbaric nurses are sometimes referred to as baromedical nurses and many CHRNs are also members of the Baromedical Nurses Association.
annual scientific meeting as well as their regional meetings.
Maintaining certification requires completion of Continuing Education Credits from NBDHMT approved sources like the UHMS or Divers Alert Network
.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
devoted to the education and certification of qualified personnel in the fields of diving
Diving medicine
Diving medicine, also called undersea and hyperbaric medicine , is the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of conditions caused by humans entering the undersea environment...
and hyperbaric medicine.
History
The professional divers of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of AmericaUnited Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America is one of the largest building trades union in the United States. One of the unions that formed the American Federation of Labor in 1886, it left the AFL-CIO in 2001.-Early years:...
sponsored an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is the primary source of information for diving and hyperbaric medicine physiology worldwide.-History:The Undersea Medical Society grew from the close associations of a small group of scientists...
workshop in 1975 to look at the needs for Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s (EMT) for the treatment of diving related injuries
Diving hazards and precautions
Divers face specific physical and health risks when they go underwater or use high pressure breathing gases. Some of these conditions also affect people who work in raised pressure environments out of water, e.g...
. This workshop established a need for medically trained personnel in offshore diving operations as well as suggested training standards for EMT divers. Following this workshop, attempts were made to incorporate a "Diver Medic Training Program" into existing paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
curriculums. This proved to be impossible due to the "esoteric nature of undersea medicine, and its geographically and medically remote applications.
In response to this need, the National Association of Diving Technicians was formed in 1981 and introduced a certification
Certification
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
program for all technologists working in the field, as well as establishing an introductory training course curriculum standard for those desiring to enter the field.
In 1991, the National Association of Diving Technicians set out to establish a new certification program for hyperbaric technologists and changed their name to the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology.
Certification through the NBDHMT is required by some Medicare's
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
regional intermediaries to be reimbursable for transcutaneous oxygen measurements.
In June 2009, the NBDHMT moved their home office from Harvey, Louisiana
Harvey, Louisiana
Harvey is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. Harvey is on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, within the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
Diver Medic Technician
The Diver Medic Technician (DMT) program is designed to meet the specific medical care needs of commercial, professional and scientific divers that often work in geographic isolation. DMT's are specifically trained for the various diving hazards and precautionsDiving hazards and precautions
Divers face specific physical and health risks when they go underwater or use high pressure breathing gases. Some of these conditions also affect people who work in raised pressure environments out of water, e.g...
found on remote work sites. The comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of topics from barotrauma
Barotrauma
Barotrauma is physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure between an air space inside or beside the body and the surrounding fluid...
to treatment of decompression sickness
Decompression sickness
Decompression sickness describes a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurization...
.
DMT's have been taking a larger role in traditional hyperbaric oxygenation facilities in the United States. In a survey of 176 monoplace hyperbaric chamber facilities, the mean number of full-time DMTs was 1.43 while the number of part time DMTs was 1.83 persons.
Certified Hyperbaric Technologist
The Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) program is tailored to meet the specific safety and operation needs for biomedical devicesMedical device
A medical device is a product which is used for medical purposes in patients, in diagnosis, therapy or surgery . Whereas medicinal products achieve their principal action by pharmacological, metabolic or immunological means. Medical devices act by other means like physical, mechanical, thermal,...
within the department and generalized clinical knowledge to administer the clinical treatments.
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics from hyperbaric chamber operations to transcutaneous oxygen monitoring.
Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse
The Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN) program is a subspecialtySubspecialty
A subspecialty is narrow field within a specialty such as forensic pathology, which is a subspecialty of anatomical pathology. A subspecialist is a specialist of a subspecialty....
for registered nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
s. Hyperbaric nursing
Hyperbaric nursing
Hyperbaric nursing is a nursing specialty involved in the care of patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology offers certification in hyperbaric nursing as a Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse . The professional nursing...
challenges nurses "to provide safe, cost-effective, quality patient care, according to established standards."
Hyperbaric nurses are sometimes referred to as baromedical nurses and many CHRNs are also members of the Baromedical Nurses Association.
Certification
Certification is granted after a candidate meets the prerequisites and passes the written exams offered each year at the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical SocietyUndersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is the primary source of information for diving and hyperbaric medicine physiology worldwide.-History:The Undersea Medical Society grew from the close associations of a small group of scientists...
annual scientific meeting as well as their regional meetings.
Maintaining certification requires completion of Continuing Education Credits from NBDHMT approved sources like the UHMS or Divers Alert Network
Divers Alert Network
The Divers Alert Network is a non-profit 501 organization devoted to assisting divers in need. The Research department conducts significant medical research on recreational scuba diving safety...
.