Cary Brown, MD in Baltimore: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Wound and Diving Injuries

Cary Brown, MD operates a hyperbaric medicine practice in Baltimore focused on treating non-healing wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, and decompression injury through pressurized oxygen chambers. This is specialized care requiring physician oversight and chambers that are uncommon in the region, placing it as a referral destination for patients whose conditions fall outside standard urgent and primary care.

What hyperbaric oxygen therapy actually treats

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% oxygen at two to three times normal atmospheric pressure inside a pressurized chamber. The process increases oxygen delivery to tissue at the cellular level, stimulating healing in wounds that have stalled despite conventional treatment. In Baltimore and its region, HBOT addresses a narrow but critical set of diagnoses: chronic diabetic ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, osteomyelitis (bone infection), radiation tissue damage, gas gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, and decompression sickness from diving accidents. Dr. Brown's practice operates within this therapeutic scope; referral typically comes from a wound care specialist, infectious disease physician, or emergency department rather than direct self-referral.

Services and session structure

A typical HBOT course involves 20 to 40 sessions, each lasting 90 to 120 minutes, scheduled five days per week. Sessions are conducted in either monoplace chambers (single-patient, acrylic tubes) or multiplace chambers (rooms accommodating multiple patients). Pricing varies by chamber type, facility overhead, and insurance agreement; confirm directly with Dr. Brown's office for current rates, as hyperbaric facilities often adjust fees based on chamber utilization and payer mix. Most insurance plans cover HBOT when medical necessity is documented, but approval requires a physician's referral and often precertification. Out-of-pocket responsibility depends on your deductible and coinsurance structure; uninsured patients should ask about self-pay rates or financial assistance options.

Hyperbaric care in the Baltimore area

Baltimore-area hyperbaric facilities are sparse. Dr. Brown's practice represents one of the few physician-directed centers in the immediate region; competitors include hyperbaric programs affiliated with larger health systems such as University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins, though availability at those institutions is limited to their established patient networks or complex cases. Dr. Brown's independent practice structure means fewer gatekeeping barriers; a wound care provider or primary care physician can refer directly without requiring prior system affiliation. For divers experiencing decompression illness in the Chesapeake region, immediate access to a nearby hyperbaric chamber is critical, making local availability an advantage over referring patients to centers in Philadelphia or Washington, DC.

Who benefits and who does not

HBOT works best for wounds that have resisted conventional care for at least four weeks and for acute diving injuries requiring same-day treatment. Patients with diabetic foot ulcers that are reducing in size but slowly, or with bone infections after surgery, are typical candidates. It is less effective for acute wounds less than one month old, for patients with uncontrolled diabetes or active malignancy in the wound bed, or for those physically unable to tolerate chamber pressure. Patients with claustrophobia may struggle with monoplace chamber therapy; multiplace options allow staff presence in the chamber and may reduce anxiety, though not all facilities offer this choice.

Before your first session

Referral is required; obtain one from your wound care physician, infectious disease doctor, or surgeon. Dr. Brown's office will order imaging or wound assessment to confirm HBOT is appropriate. You will undergo a medical history screening, including questions about lung disease, fever, and medications. Arrive without heavy perfumes or oils, which are fire hazards in the oxygen-rich environment. Sessions begin with gradual pressure increase over ten minutes, during which you may feel ear pressure similar to airplane descent. Ears equalize using the Valsalva maneuver or by yawning. The chamber will be noisy; communication typically occurs through an intercom. Most patients experience no pain, though sinus or ear discomfort occasionally occurs and improves with equalization technique. Sessions feel monotonous rather than uncomfortable.

Hours and logistics

Confirm hours and scheduling directly with Dr. Brown's office, as hyperbaric facilities typically operate weekdays and limit weekend availability. Ask about parking at the facility and whether a caregiver needs to be present during treatment (policies vary). If you drive independently, plan for 20 to 30 minutes travel time; sessions consume two to three hours when including dressing changes and physician assessment. Multiplace chambers may allow a companion to sit with you, easing anxiety during longer courses.

Dr. Brown's practice fills a gap in Baltimore's specialized medicine landscape by providing rapid access to a therapy that heals otherwise intractable wounds and saves limbs. For patients whose conditions meet clear diagnostic criteria, local availability eliminates delays that often mean the difference between wound closure and amputation.