(PI-023 (RPT-001)) Sustaining Excellence in HBOT Safety: Centralized Management of Routine Safety Protocols Using Digital Tools

Elaine Song, MD, PhD, MBA; Chelsea Thompson, EMT, CHT, CWCA, WPC; Tiffany Hamm, RN, CWON, CWS; Jeffrey Mize, RRT, CHT, CWCA

Introduction:

Introduction
The 2025 chamber explosion in Michigan is a sobering reminder that safe provision of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a primary objective for any facility seeking excellence in care.(1) A comprehensive preventative maintenance program is critical to HBOT safety.The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) recommends maintaining inspection logs for all hyperbaric equipment.(2) However, in practice, these logs are often paper-based and inconsistent, leading to challenges such as limited storage, time-consuming reviews, and a lack of real-time insights - particularly for organizations managing multiple sites.To address these obstacles, we developed and implemented a centralized digital safety solution designed to standardize, track, and document routine safety protocols across multicentric HBOT programs.

Methods:

Methods

• Applying design thinking methodology,(3) we developed the solution within a clinical decision support web application* and implemented it across a multicentric HBOT program.


• Paper-based routine safety protocols - including HBOT chamber and unit inspection templates, annual chamber maintenance logs, adverse event forms, and training modules - were converted into digital checklists, interactive clinical pathways, and digital forms. These were assigned as recurring tasks to each site’s safety coordinator.


• User feedback was continuously incorporated to optimize functionality and adoption.

Results:

Results
The digital solution, including routine safety checklists, annual maintenance documents, monthly training modules, and adverse event reporting, was successfully implemented.
Key outcomes included:

• Seamless, fully integrated, and audit-ready digital workflows


• Real-time dashboards for monitoring task completion, resulting in a 100% completion rate of safety checklists and training modules


• Instant access to actionable insights through embedded AI-driven analytics of adverse event data


• Significant time savings for hyperbaric technologists and managers during daily inspections and reviews

Discussion:

Discussion/Conclusion
Previous evaluations demonstrated that compared to paper-based documentation, digital checklists reduce the time required for daily maintenance checks and record reviews by 50%, while strengthening the culture of safety.(4) The integration of digital routine safety protocols into a user-friendly, centralized platform further enhances compliance, safety, and preventative maintenance efforts across multicentric HBOT programs. This robust approach helps ensure the highest levels of patient and staff safety while reducing the risk of preventable accidents.