Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Edmonton

At Misericordia Community Hospital, HBOT is covered by Alberta Health with a physician referral for recognised indications, no out-of-pocket cost. At private Edmonton clinics, sessions typically cost $200 to $350 each depending on chamber type and treatment plan. See the facility list above for contact details.

Yes. Alberta Health covers HBOT at Misericordia Community Hospital for recognised indications under physician billing code 13.99I. A referral is required. Coverage applies to the 14 Health Canada-recognised conditions, Canora private clinic does not accept Alberta Health billing.

Ask your family physician or specialist to refer you to the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at Misericordia Community Hospital (780-735-2537). The AHS team triages referrals by urgency. Emergency indications like carbon monoxide poisoning or decompression sickness are treated immediately without prior referral.

Yes. Misericordia Community Hospital provides 24/7 emergency treatment for decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism. For diving emergencies call 911 or Alberta Health Link at 811 to be routed to the hyperbaric unit.

A typical session at Misericordia or Canora lasts 90 to 120 minutes, including compression to 2.0–2.4 ATA, treatment breathing 100% oxygen, and decompression. Most clinical protocols call for 20 to 40 daily sessions, 5 days per week; some radiation indications (cystitis, proctitis) may require up to 60 sessions.

Portable soft-sided chambers are sold in Alberta for home use, but they operate at 1.3 ATA with ambient air, not the 2.0+ ATA with 100% oxygen used in clinical HBOT. Soft chambers are not licensed by Health Canada for the 14 recognised medical indications. For any clinically indicated condition, hospital-based or accredited private HBOT is the only evidence-based option.

WCB Alberta covers HBOT for work-related conditions including carbon monoxide exposure (industrial), decompression sickness (commercial divers), and crush injuries. Coverage is assessed case-by-case. Contact WCB Alberta directly for pre-authorization before treatment begins.

Many patients doze during HBOT sessions, it is safe to rest with eyes closed. Full sleep is uncommon because of the mild pressure changes and oxygen mask. Clinic staff monitor patients continuously throughout the session.

Clinical-grade hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers 100 per cent oxygen at 2.0 to 2.8 ATA inside a Health Canada-licensed chamber. "Mild" or "soft" hyperbaric chambers (sometimes called "oxygen bars" or "recreational chambers") operate at 1.3 ATA or less, sometimes with ambient air rather than concentrated oxygen, and are not Health Canada-licensed for the 14 recognised clinical indications. The clinical evidence base for HBOT references pressures of 2.0 ATA and above; lower-pressure protocols do not produce the same dissolved-oxygen physiology. Provincial health plans cover treatment only at hospital programmes operating clinical-grade chambers; private clinics in Edmonton should disclose their chamber type and operating pressure on request.

A standard HBOT session at clinics and hospital programmes serving Edmonton lasts 90 to 120 minutes door-to-door: roughly 10 to 15 minutes for compression to treatment depth (typically 2.0 to 2.8 ATA), 60 to 90 minutes at treatment pressure, and 10 to 15 minutes for decompression. Patients change into chamber-safe cotton clothing, remove all electronics and oils or lotions, and either lie down in a monoplace chamber or sit in a multiplace chamber. Most chronic-condition courses run 20 to 40 sessions delivered daily or near-daily over 4 to 8 weeks; emergency indications use shorter, time-critical protocols.