- OHIP-direct billing for covered indications
- Same- or next-day urgent consults
Specialty Referral Guide
HBOT Referrals from
General Surgery
Partner in Care
General surgery encounters several of the chronic OHIP-covered HBOT indications. We work closely with general surgery teams on post-discharge and outpatient chronic wound and tissue-salvage care, and welcome direct physician-to-physician contact for complex cases.
Referral Guide
When to Refer & What to Include
Conditions to consider for HBOT referral
- Chronic refractory osteomyelitis (post-debridement, with culture-directed antibiotics)
- Compromised abdominal wall or trunk grafts and flaps
- Chronic non-healing post-surgical wounds in selected high-risk patients
- Post-discharge wound and tissue management following acute surgical care for necrotizing soft tissue infections (the acute episode is managed at a tertiary acute hyperbaric centre; we may be involved in residual chronic wound care)
The Evidence
Evidence Highlights
- For chronic refractory osteomyelitis, HBOT is OHIP-covered and supported by multiple case series demonstrating improved infection resolution when added to surgery and antibiotics.
- For compromised grafts and flaps, animal and clinical evidence support improved survival when HBOT is initiated early after signs of compromise.
Timing & urgency
Compromised graft or flap: call directly to coordinate timing of first session.
Routine osteomyelitis or chronic wound: standard referral pathway.
Acute necrotizing soft tissue infections: please contact the Toronto General Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit — outpatient monoplace HBOT is not the right setting for acute NSTI.
Medical review
Dr. Vik Agarwal MD CCFP FRCPC CAQ-HP — President, Evolve Medical Group
Dr. Seema Agarwal MD CCFP CAQ-HP — Chief Medical Officer, Evolve Hyperbarics
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Next: May 2027
Refer a Patient
Ready to Refer or Discuss a Case?
Send a referral through whatever channel suits your workflow, or call 1-888-851-4268 to
discuss a case directly with the on-call hyperbaric physician.