Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Durham, NC

Durham is home to Duke University Health System, one of the country’s premier academic medical centers. For hyperbaric oxygen therapy, that matters. Duke’s program has the subspecialty depth that complex wound cases often require, including vascular surgery, infectious disease, and oncology support under one system.

Finding HBOT Providers in Durham

Duke University Health System is the dominant medical institution in Durham. For HBOT, Duke’s wound care and hyperbaric program is well-regarded nationally, not just regionally. The program handles complex cases that community hospitals may not be equipped to manage, including severe radiation injuries, complex osteomyelitis, and non-healing wounds in high-risk patients.

That doesn’t mean Duke is the only or always the best option for every Durham-area patient. Your specific condition, insurance network, and proximity to other Triangle health systems all factor in. UNC Health in Chapel Hill and UNC Rex in Raleigh are also nearby.

To verify current accreditation, use the UHMS directory at uhms.org. For referrals to Duke, your physician submits the request through Duke’s referral process. Self-referrals are sometimes possible but typically slower.

Read our guide to choosing a hyperbaric clinic before you decide.

Insurance and Medicare Coverage in Durham

Medicare Part B may cover HBOT for 14 FDA-approved conditions. Duke Health participates with Medicare, and the conditions most commonly treated in Durham include diabetic foot ulcers that haven’t responded to standard care, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, compromised skin grafts and flaps, radiation tissue injury (osteoradionecrosis from head, neck, or prostate cancer treatment), and decompression sickness.

Medicare coverage requires a physician order and treatment at a Medicare-certified facility. Wound-related indications typically require documentation that standard wound care was tried first and failed.

Duke’s billing team can confirm current Medicare reimbursement rates. Those rates change annually and aren’t reliably reflected in online sources. North Carolina Medicaid coverage depends on your managed care plan. Commercial insurers follow Medicare’s criteria and require prior authorization.

Off-label HBOT uses are not covered by any insurer. Duke may offer access to research trials for some investigational indications, which is a different pathway from standard insurance coverage.

See our insurance guide and cost guide for more.

What to Expect at Your First Session

The evaluation process at Duke is thorough. Academic medical centers assess complex patients carefully before beginning HBOT, particularly when other chronic conditions are present. Your hyperbaric physician reviews your diagnosis, all current medications, and relevant history from your medical record. If you’ve been treated elsewhere, having those records sent in advance speeds up the process.

Sessions run 90 minutes to two hours at 2.0 to 2.4 atmospheres for most medical indications. Treatment courses are typically 20 to 40 sessions, five days a week. Patients drive themselves and maintain normal activity around sessions.

Duke’s Durham campus is the primary location for most specialty programs. If parking and navigation at a major academic medical center are concerns, ask the scheduling team about patient assistance before your first visit.

Read our first session guide for what to expect on day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Duke’s hyperbaric program only for complex cases?

Not necessarily. Duke’s program treats a range of conditions including standard diabetic foot ulcers and radiation injuries. But academic medical centers see a higher proportion of complex cases than community hospitals. If your case is straightforward, a community hospital-based center may have shorter wait times and equal clinical outcomes.

Does Duke conduct research on HBOT?

Duke is an active research institution and has studied various aspects of hyperbaric medicine. If you’re interested in clinical trial participation for investigational HBOT uses, contact Duke’s research office or ask your physician to inquire. Research participation is not the same as standard clinical care and has its own eligibility process.

How do I get a referral to Duke Health from outside Durham?

Your physician submits a referral request to Duke’s referral center. Duke accepts referrals from across North Carolina and the region. You can also contact Duke’s patient appointment line, but physician referrals tend to move faster for specialty care.

See more providers in North Carolina: /providers/north-carolina/

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before pursuing any medical treatment.