National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology

National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology
Founded	1981
Location	Columbia, South Carolina, United States;
Area served	Worldwide
Website	http://www.nbdhmt.org/

National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT), formally known as the National Association of Diving Technicians, is a non-profit organization devoted to the education and certification of qualified personnel in the fields of diving and hyperbaric medicine.^[1]

History

The professional divers of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America sponsored an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society workshop in 1975 to look at the needs for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) for the treatment of diving related injuries.^[2] This workshop established a need for medically trained personnel in offshore diving operations as well as suggested training standards for EMT divers.^[2] Following this workshop, attempts were made to incorporate a "Diver Medic Training Program" into existing paramedic curricula.^[3] This proved to be impossible due to the "esoteric nature of undersea medicine, and its geographically and medically remote applications.^[3]

In response to this need, the National Association of Diving Technicians was formed in 1981 and introduced a certification program for all technologists working in the field, as well as establishing an introductory training course curriculum standard for those desiring to enter the field.^[3]^[4]

In 1991, the National Association of Diving Technicians set out to establish a new certification program for hyperbaric technologists and changed their name to the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology.^[3]^[5]

Certification through the NBDHMT is required by some of Medicare's regional intermediaries to be reimbursable for transcutaneous oxygen measurement.^[6]

In June 2009, the NBDHMT moved their home office from Harvey, Louisiana to Columbia, South Carolina.^[7]

Programs

Diver Medic Technician

The Diver Medic Technician (DMT) program is designed to meet the specific medical care needs of commercial, professional and scientific divers that often work in geographic isolation.^[8]^[9] DMT's are specifically trained for the various diving hazards and precautions found on remote work sites.^[8] The comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of topics from barotrauma to treatment of decompression sickness.^[10]

DMT's have been taking a larger role in traditional hyperbaric oxygenation facilities in the United States. In a survey of 176 monoplace hyperbaric chamber facilities, the mean number of full-time DMTs was 1.43 while the number of part-time DMTs was 1.83 persons.^[11]

Certified Hyperbaric Technologist

The Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) program is tailored to meet the specific safety and operation needs for biomedical devices within the department and generalized clinical knowledge to administer the clinical treatments.^[12]

The curriculum covers a wide range of topics from hyperbaric chamber operations to transcutaneous oxygen monitoring.^[13]

Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse

The Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN) program is a subspecialty for registered nurses. Hyperbaric nursing challenges nurses "to provide safe, cost-effective, quality patient care, according to established standards."^[14]

Hyperbaric nurses are sometimes referred to as baromedical nurses and many CHRNs are also members of the Baromedical Nurses Association.^[15]^[16]

Certification

Certification is granted after a candidate meets the prerequisites and passes the written exams offered each year at the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society annual scientific meeting as well as their regional meetings.^[17]

Maintaining certification requires completion of Continuing Education Credits from NBDHMT approved sources like the UHMS or Divers Alert Network.^[18]

References

^ "National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology". NBDHMT. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ ^a ^b Tuerk, MG, ed. (1975). "Emergency Medical Technician/ Diver Workshop". 10th Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Workshop. UHMS Publication Number W18. Bethesda: Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-14.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology: Certified Hyperbaric Technologist study guide. National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology. 1995.
^ Crosson, DJ (1987). "Diving medics in the scientific field". In: Mitchell, CT (Eds.) Diving for Science 86. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences Sixth Annual Scientific Diving Symposium. Held October 31 - November 3, 1986 in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "NBDHMT: Who are we?". NBDHMT. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ "Non-Invasive Peripheral Arterial Studies - 4U-20AB" (PDF). Trailblazer's Health Enterprises. Retrieved 2009-06-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Clarke, Dick. "Monthly Briefing Archive". NBDHMT. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ ^a ^b "Diver Medic Technician Training and Certification". NBDHMT. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ Clarke, Dick (1985). "All about the DMT". Pressure, Newsletter of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. 14 (6): 2. ISSN 0889-0242.
^ "Diver Medic Technician Resource Manual". NBDHMT. Archived from the original on 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ Kob, DG; Gesell, LB; Spadafora, MP; Liu, T (1998). "UTILIZATION AND STAFFING OF MONOPLACE HYPERBARIC FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES". Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (Annual Meeting Abstract). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-06-14.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Training and Certification". NBDHMT. Archived from the original on February 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ "Certified Hyperbaric Technician Resource Manual". NBDHMT. Retrieved 2009-06-14. ^{[dead link]}
^ Josefsen, L; Woodward, C; Lewis, D; Hodge, J; Camporesi, EM (1997). "THE NURSING ROLE IN HYPERBARIC MEDICINE". Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (Annual Meeting Abstract). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-06-14.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Greenberg, DA (1985). "BAROMEDICAL NURSING SPECIALIZATION". Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (Annual Meeting Abstract). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-06-14.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Baromedical Nurses Association Certification". Baromedical Nurses Association. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ "Certified Hyperbaric Technologist & Certified Registered Nurse Testing Schedule". NBDHMT. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ "DAN Online Seminars Receive NBDHMT Certification". Divers Alert Network. Retrieved 2009-06-14.