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UHMS Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation Program

Certification of Competency and Credibility

UHMS Accreditation means your facility has met the highest standards of care and patient safety through our rigorous evaluation of the adequacy of your facility, equipment, staff, and training to ensure the utmost quality within our specialty. UHMS is committed to providing, promoting, developing, and raising the quality of care across the spectrum in scientific communication, life sciences, and clinical practices of hyperbaric medicine by promoting high standards of patient care and operational safety. If your facility is part of this elite group, congratulations! If not, let us help you get started.

  • UHMS Accreditation is the gold standard in hyperbaric facility accreditation (HFA), and the UHMS HFA program has surveyed and accredited over 294 facilities in nearly 25 + years
  • The UHMS HFA program is the only hyperbaric-specific accreditation to be recognized by The Joint Commission as a Complementary Accrediting organization under the TJC’s Cooperative Agreement Initiative
Map of Accredited Facilities
UHMS Position Statement

UHMS - HFA Accreditation Manual

The UHMS Accreditation Manual is a comprehensive resource that guides hyperbaric facilities through every step of the accreditation process. It outlines the policies, procedures, requirements, and practical guidance needed to understand and prepare for accreditation to recognized industry standards. The manual also includes the accreditation probes used to evaluate key aspects of hyperbaric facility operations, helping organizations identify expectations, assess their current level of compliance, and address potential gaps before the survey. Whether preparing for an initial accreditation survey or maintaining ongoing compliance, the UHMS Accreditation Manual is an essential roadmap for building a safe, effective, standards-based hyperbaric program.

Obtain a free copy of the Accreditation Manual. To purchase a copy of the Accreditation Manual here (linked to Best Publishing).

Accreditation Manual

ACCREDITED FACILITIES ENJOY THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:

  • A printed copy of the UHM Journal
  • Free one-year individual membership for those facility employees who have never been a UHMS member before
  • Get listed on the upcoming UHMS facility map with referral access
  • Become a part of a network of accredited facilities which have demonstrated operating at a higher level

PROGRAM STRUCTURE FEE:

(New structure fee effective January 2015)

ACCREDITATION/REACCREDITATION SURVEY:

  • Application Fee: $2500 (Non-Refundable, due at the time of application)
  • Survey Fee: $7500 (due 30 days prior to the scheduled survey date*)

CONSULTATION SURVEY:

  • Application Fee: $2000 (Non-Refundable, due at the time of application)
  • Survey Fee: $3000 (due 30 days prior to the scheduled survey date*)

PROCESSING FEES (ALL SURVEYS) Non-Refundable:

The following fees will be applied to the invoice. Please include the following amounts USD for the wire processing fees.

  • Domestic wire: $15.00 per transaction
  • International wire: $20.00 per transaction
  • Credit Card Payments: 2% per transaction

ORGANIZATION CHANGE UPDATE

Examples of significant change include:

  • Relocation or remodel of a facility
  • Change in service offered
  • Merger or joint venture with another organization
  • Change in key facility personnel

Failure to notify the UHMS may result in the loss of accreditation. Depending on the nature and significance of the changes, an interim site survey may be required to maintain accreditation.

*Failure to remit final payment 30 days prior to a scheduled survey may result in cancellation of the survey.

Please contact the HFA Department if you have any questions. HFAinfo@uhms.org (210)404-1553 877-533-8467 x105

Setting the Standard for Hyperbaric Facility Excellence

The UHMS Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation (HFA) Program is proud to be ISO 9001-certified, demonstrating our commitment to the highest principles of quality management, continuous improvement, patient safety, and organizational accountability. Our accreditation process is tailored to the unique clinical, technical, operational, and safety requirements of hyperbaric medicine.

UHMS-HFA is also recognized by The Joint Commission as a complementary accrediting organization, placing UHMS among a select group of organizations recognized for its specialized expertise in hyperbaric medicine. In addition, the UHMS-HFA Program has formally received recognition from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is accepted by numerous private insurers and regulatory organizations. These distinctions underscore the importance of specialized hyperbaric accreditation and the role UHMS-HFA plays in advancing safe, high-quality hyperbaric care worldwide.

A Comprehensive Survey — Not Simply a Documentation Review

What distinguishes UHMS-HFA is the depth and scope of our on-site survey. Our surveyors evaluate the hyperbaric program as an integrated operation, examining governance and administration, clinical oversight, staff qualifications and competency, patient-care practices, quality management, emergency preparedness, safety, and the physical environment.

A critical component of the UHMS-HFA survey is the evaluation of the hyperbaric chamber and supporting systems. Surveyors review equipment condition, preventive and corrective maintenance, required documentation, operational practices, and compliance with applicable hyperbaric safety standards. The goal is to verify that the facility's policies and procedures are not merely documented but are implemented effectively and demonstrated in actual practice.

Accreditation That Advances Hyperbaric Medicine

UHMS-HFA accreditation provides facilities with more than a credential—it offers an independent evaluation of the quality, safety, and operational readiness of their hyperbaric program. The survey process can identify opportunities for improvement, reinforce accountability, and help organizations build sustainable systems that support safe, effective patient care.

By combining specialized hyperbaric expertise with a rigorous accreditation process, UHMS-HFA helps facilities demonstrate their commitment to excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement to patients, physicians, healthcare organizations, insurers, regulators, and the communities they serve.

UHMS-HFA: Advancing quality. Strengthening safety. Supporting excellence in hyperbaric medicine worldwide.

Testimonials

Mayo Clinic Rochester

"Our team began multiplace clinical operations in 2008, and we added a monoplace chamber shortly thereafter. We have grown into a very diverse, busy practice serving a large volume of patients for all HBOT indications. This includes complex hospitalized patients with advanced airways and on a ventilator. Our goal has always been to follow the principles of evidence-based medicine with a paramount emphasis on safety of our staff and patients. Following the UHMS guidelines, my predecessor Dr. Paul Claus and our team designed a solid system of staffing, policies, procedures, and compassionate patient care. They achieved accreditation by the UHMS within 2 years of the founding of the program.

We recently completed our fourth survey, which resulted in our unit being awarded accreditation with distinction for the 3rd time in a row. Personnel and standards change, but each survey provides us the opportunity to fundamentally test the foundations of our program, strive for constant improvement, and to keep up with the most up-to-date guidance from the UHMS. The accreditation process is not easy, nor should it be. Nevertheless, the advantages of meeting the high standards of the accreditation process pay great dividends. I would implore every hyperbaric practice to engage in the process—your program will reap great benefits from formal UHMS accreditation."

Gary Toups, M.D.

Memorial Herman Hospital - Texas Medical Center

"At Memorial Herman Hospital - Texas Medical Center, the Hyperbaric Medicine Department is but one of multiple distinguished centers which adhere to specialty accreditation. It is important to promote Hyperbaric Medicine by recognizing, participating in, and advertising official UHMS accreditation.

The standards set by UHMS assure we maintain a holistic practice. The seal of accreditation obtained from this rigorous, voluntary process distinguishes our center to our colleagues as well as to the community, as a center that is professional, adheres to best-practices, and places the highest value on patient care and safety.

In addition, the department engages in quality improvement, provides a variety of educational opportunities to medical trainees and to the community to promote Hyperbaric Medicine. Our staff work hard and consistently go the ‘extra-mile” to be a ‘step-above”. The With Distinction process rewards and encourages those extra efforts and is a title we display with great pride."

Joseph G. Nevarez, MD - Medical Director

"Our program began in 1989 at Memorial Hermann- TMC. We want to ensure we have policies in place that allow us to provide exceptional care to our patients. Using the UHMS guidelines we have developed several operating processes helping ensure safety and high quality care in every facet.

We obtained our first accreditation in 2003, and most recently in 2020 received Level 1 accreditation with distinction. We learn more and more with each survey allowing us to reach our full potential by challenging the normal process and thinking on a larger and well-defined scale. The accreditation survey is challenging and vigorous, but well worth it. I am so proud of the work the UHMS and MH team have both done to commit to providing excellent care."

Antionettia Lindsey, RN, MSN - Clinical Manager

"We have had a 24/7 multiplace program at Memorial Hermann for 32 years now, as you would expect having a program for this long you would have staff and leadership changes, after our first accreditation in 2003 the UHMS program has put us on a regular schedule for accreditation inspections which give the staff (new or old), guidelines for how to operate and maintain a safe and successful

hyperbaric program and helps keep us up to date on new or updated guidelines and regulations. The way UHMS has created the point system for distinction enables programs to push harder to achieve this title, which when you are promoting your program instills a sense of pride in your staff and a feeling of safety in our patients."

David Baylor, CHT - Safety Coordinator

For further information, please contact:

HFA Department
Toll-Free: 877-533-UHMS (8467) x105
Direct: Tel: (210) 404-1553 x 105
Email: hfainfo@uhms.org

Public Comments and Suggestions for UHMS HFA Probes

UHMS Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation (HFA) is committed to continuous improvement of the accreditation process. One of the most important ways we accomplish this is by receiving feedback from the hyperbaric community.

We welcome comments, suggestions, additions, modifications, or requests for new Probes at any time. There is no submission deadline—this process is ongoing. All submissions are reviewed and considered during the annual review of the Probes for inclusion in the next edition of the UHMS Accreditation Manual.

We encourage you to provide supporting references and a clear explanation for your recommendation. Submissions that include applicable standards, regulations, or published guidance help ensure the accuracy and consistency of the accreditation program.

Please complete the form below.

Probe Comment Submission Form

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