WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (4 July 2007) -- Scuba divers upset over St. Mary's Medical Center's decision to stop providing emergency hyperbaric services for decompression sickness have the county's top health official in their corner. Palm Beach County Health Director Jean Malecki has asked the Florida Attorney General's Office to investigate the hospital's decision. At issue is whether the change, which went into effect Saturday, violates the 2001 sale agreement in which Tenet Healthcare Corp. vowed to maintain emergency services at St. Mary's for at least 10 years. "Tenet's decision to discontinue hyperbaric chamber services to divers suffering from 'the bends' has serious consequences in timely access to this emergency and life-saving medical intervention for the residents and visitors who dive off our coast," Malecki wrote in a letter Monday to Assistant Attorney General Cynthia Guerra. St. Mary's decision means divers suffering decompression sickness must travel to Miami or Orlando for treatment. The West Palm Beach hospital cited low demand and difficulty keeping staff available around the clock as reasons for its decision. However, St. Mary's, which said it handles fewer than 50 emergency hyperbaric patients a year, will continue to offer the services to wound-care patients during normal business hours Monday through Friday. St. Mary's spokeswoman Patti Patrick on Tuesday said the hospital is "in compliance" with the sale agreement. St. Mary's lost more than $5 million last year. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill McCollum said the agency had not yet received Malecki's letter and could not comment. The Attorney General's Office oversaw the sale of St. Mary's and Good Samaritan medical centers to Tenet. St. Mary's decision was strongly criticized by the local diving community, which says it puts divers at risk. St. Mary's was the only Palm Beach County hospital that offered hyperbaric services for emergencies. Wellington Regional Medical Center, Boca Raton Community Hospital and Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach also offer hyperbaric services on an outpatient, elective basis. | Hyperbaric chambers are used to treat scuba diving injuries such as decompression sickness as well as non-diving injuries. Patients undergoing hyperbaric treatment are put in a chamber where 100 percent oxygen is circulated. The oxygen is pressurized so that air pressure may be two to three times greater than normal. This allows the lungs and skin to absorb more concentrated oxygen in less time. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is used to relieve divers of a dangerous condition called decompression sickness, or the bends. As people ascend from under water, nitrogen gas bubbles may form in the lungs, tissue and bloodstream. Blood flow may be blocked, with disastrous results. Hyperbaric treatment neutralizes the effects of nitrogen. SCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba ForumCDNN Related NewsFLORIDA - Hospital to end emergency hyperbaric treatment for divers | 
