SPECIALIZATION IN HYPERBARIC MEDICINE AND ITS LEVELS

Classification of Hyperbaric Medical Specialization Courses : 

Hyperbaric Medical Course are Divided into Following Levels of Courses : 

A:  Level -1 course   

B:  Level -2 Course 

C:  Level -3 Course   

A:  Level -1 Courses : 

Level -1 Courses are those Courses  who,s Length or duration of the Course are from 7 days to 30 Days,  contains some basics about the Hyperbaric Medicine and its Science and also Chamber Operations , 

Level -1 courses does not require for the Participant to do deep sea diving Activities or doing sea based Activities. 

The Level -1 Course are conducted Near the Hyperbaric Chambers and , some cases of Hyperbaric Medicine are discussed as Patient are Under going Treatment. 

Following are the Courses that Qualify as Level -1 courses : 

1. Operation of Hyperbaric Chamber  

2. Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine and also Seeing some live cases undergoing Treatment. 

3. Health and Safety issues and Disaster Management of Hypebaric Chamber and the Patients. 

B:  Level -2 Courses : 

Level -2 Courses are those Courses  who's Length or duration of of Course are from 6 months  days to 3 Years Duration,  contains basics and Advance Knowledge of  Hyperbaric Medicine and its Science and also Chamber Operations . 

Level -2 courses does require for the Participant to do deep sea diving Activities or doing sea based Activities, like Scuba Diving and Deep Sea Diving and Tactical Diving with Oxygen Generators and also Military Grade Diving . 

Some times the participants also has a chance of Alternate Gas Diving like on Heliox etc .  

The Level -2 Course are conducted Near the Hyperbaric Chambers and , also near the Sea and Diving Activities Station for 1 Year and then  on Diving Ship like a Mine hunter etc 

Deep Sea Diving is Conducted under Supervision of Trained Supervisors of Diving and also other Trained Hyperbaric Medical Physician Instructors as in Like NUMI . 

Hyperbaric Medicine are discussed as Patient are Under going Treatment in a Hospital Based Environment where the Cases are Under going Treatment 

Hyperbaric Medicine Training is About 3 Years Total in NUMI , that is Naval Under water and Medical Institute in Karachi , which has following Components :

• 6 months of Theory Part at NUMI Naval under water Medical Institute, under Bahria Naval University Department of Medicine and Naval Medical Directorate .
• Plus 6 Months of Hyperbaric Medicine Training at PNS Shifa 1000 Bed Post Graduate Medical Institute , under Bahria Naval University Department of Medicine and Naval Medical Directorate , Clinical Aspects of Hyperbaric Medicine and its training under Senior Instructors. 
• 1 Year diving and Practical Training at PNS Iqbal Naval Special Service Facility.
• 1 Year diving and Practical Training on Board a Diving Mine Hunter ship that has Active Diving Operations

Total of 3 Years of Course is done before a person is Fully Qualified as Hyperbaric Medical Specialist is Requirement in Pakistan Navy with both Theory and Practical Aspects.

Certificate of Hyperbaric Medicine Specialization is Issued by the Naval medical Directorate of Pakistan Navy in Islamabad , of 6 Months Duration only that only Signifies only the Theory Aspects and does not Mention  the Practical 2 years and Six Months of Training that is a Flaw with Certificate ,does not Mention the, 6 months of Hyperbaric Training at PNS Shifa Hospital and also  Practical Training of 2 Years that are Pre-requite for being Hyperbaric Medical Specialist which is an Anomaly that has to be Corrected the Certificate Issued by Pakistan Naval Medical Directorate , is of level -2 in International Classification.

The Level -2  Hyperbaric Medical Certificate  that is Given by Naval medical Directorate of Pakistan Navy, of 6 months Duration Mentioning the Theory Part only as First Anomaly.

NUMI and Naval Medical Directorate also does not  Mention the Training Part and Deep Sea Diving Portion of 2 Years or so apart from 6 Month Theory Certificate Issued by Naval Medical Directorate as Second Anomaly.

Also needing  Correction, as the Defense Forces of Pakistan as Pakistan Navy and the Army medical Corps of Pakistan Army did not Pay the Fee for Registration to PMDC- Pakistan Medical and Dental Council , to Recognize Hyperbaric Medicine as a Master Degree of 3 Years Duration as Training and Theory is more than 3 Years .

The NUMI and Naval Medical Directorate and PMDC should at Least consider it as Diploma of 1 Years at Least as Fourth Anomaly  , as Below 1 Years is  not Considered as Diploma of Specialization and it is not even Printed on PMDC Licences, and this Problem Exists with Aviation Medicine Certificate as well from Pakistan Air-force .

For Instructors Advance Hyperbaric Course is done abroad , in USA and Australia when the Senior Hyperbaric Medical Specialists are sent by the Pakistan Navy after they complete the and Plus 3 Years of Training Post Qualification .

After this Training in USA and Australia the Doctor is now Consider Fit for being a Qualified Hyperbaric Specialist and Senior Instructor and he/she  can be:

• Examiner of Hyperbaric Medicine for Divers and Submariners
• Instructor at NUMI , Naval Medical Under Water Medical Instructor. 
• Licensed to Practice as Specialist as Hyperbaric Medical  Consultant 

C:  Level -3 Courses : 

Level- 3 is a Post Graduate or Doctorate course in Hyperbaric Medicine , like the following In Pakistan as  Level -3:

1. Master
2. PHD Degree

3. FCPS  Hyperbaric Medicine from CPSP Pakistan

These level -3 are not Available as of yet , from Pakistan or even Abroad in English Speaking Countries and top Developed countries of the world.

Internationally Advance Level -3 , Courses  are not Available in USA Europe, Asia Africa,  or Oceania ( Australia / New Zealand ) in any English Speaking Countries.

Pakistan is trying to Introduce Master Degree course from Bahria University or NUMS , National University of Medical Sciences soon.

In Non English Countries , Egypt has a Master Degree from National Defense University is in Arabic Language.

The USA Some Doctors have Done ABEM American Board Emergency Medicine Specialization  , and then Completing 1- 6 months Certification in Hyperbaric Medicine are Erroneously claiming to be American Board Certified Hyperbaric Specialist or Post Grads and are miss Understood as such.

Same  is case in Oceania Hyperbaric Medicine Available as Sub Specialization of Royal College of Anesthesia after completing Specialization in Anesthesia or Emergency Medicine, they do 1 month Hyperbaric Medicine Course of Level-1.

Who can qualify for the Courses: 

Arrangement of Training by Hyperbaric Medicine Training can be Arranged by Hyperbaric Medicine Society of Pakistan in Pakistan or Abroad on Demand for the following Kind of People :

1. Doctors
2. Nurses
3. Technicians of Hyperbaric Medical Field
4. Divers
5. Bio Medical Engineers

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Thanking you in Anticipation,


From,



Dr. Khurrum Shaukat Yousafzai
Director Chinar Trust Hospital,
Director Ksy Hyperbarics Consultancy,
Founder Hyperbaric Medical Society Pakistan,
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