New IHMA

[Guest guest]

Below you will find the latest email I have received from Locklear,

acting CEO of the new International Hyperbaric Medical Association (IHMA). I

would like to express very strongly that I feel with Ken at the helm, this can

be a very strong association, which will advocate for hyperbarics to be

available to everyone who would benefit. As a new association, it is important

to have someone with the drive and commitment to undertake such a venture. If

anything would change that Ken was no longer the main organizer, I would

withdraw my support unless I absolutely knew the person taking his place had

that same honesty and dedication. Let me make it clear that Ken and I have

never met face to face, so my support of him as the CEO is strictly based on

past business dealings, as well as the things I have heard from other business

acquaintances and friends. I have no doubt that he has the knowledge and the

integrity to handle this vast undertaking.

On the part about an MD as a Medical Director, this has been discussed at

length. Ken and I both agree that it will be a good move to allow a free

standing clinic who only treats neurological and otherwise safe and non invasive

conditions to have an MD as a Medical Director but not require them to be on

Premise. They will receive training in Hyperbarics and will check all clients

before they are allowed to begin treatments. This will insure that someone

with good medical and hyperbaric knowledge will check all patients and make

certain there are no contra-indications or questions that would keep the patient

from have safe hyperbaric treatments. Although this may cause some additional

costs for us at Miracle Mountain, it should allow us to keep our costs at a

minimum for those who cannot afford to go elsewhere. We have plenty of time to

arrange this and it will not affect our present operations. I feel good about

this and it is using good common sense and it is also assuring the Medical

Community at large that HBOT is, and will remain to be, a safe and effective

procedure.

Now it is time for every individual on these lists, whether you need Hyperbaric

Oxygen Therapy or not, to get behind this new association so that we will have

representation to advocate for proper coverage by insurance, HDO's and Medicaid

of all conditions which will benefit from HBOT. There are presently 13 of those

conditions recognized by the FDA and there are close to 100 that have proven to

benefit from HBOT. The new IHMA will advocate for these conditions, especially

Neurological, to become accepted also.

We must join together, work together, pray together, and take a stand by joining

forces and the IHMA is the perfect catalyst for us to work together to make

things happen. If you suffer from Fibromyalgia, CP, any type of Brain Damage,

CFS, RSD, Lymes, and the list goes on, I encourage you to join forces with us to

get this monumental task underway.

Manufacturers, Doctors, HBOT providers, Professionals from all walks of life, as

well as individuals, the new IHMA is going to need sponsors. There will be

bills to be paid, they will need a staff to do work, office space, etc. It

will cost money. I hope that you do not need to be reminded to make

contributions to get this organization off the ground. This was not discussed

with Ken, but I know that this will be needed. Anyone that can help needs to

get out their checkbook.

We will only get one chance to make this happen. AND THIS IS IT! So those of

you who have been griping because HBOT is not available to you, THIS IS YOUR

CHANCE! Those of you who can afford it but would much rather see your insurance

pay for it, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE! Those of you who do not want to travel across

several states for hbot and would like to see it in your area, THIS IS YOUR

CHANCE! Those of you who would like to see HBOT available to your parents, your

uncles and aunts, all your loved ones, within 2 hours of the stroke they may

have, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!

Read the letter from Ken below, and if you are not convince that this is our big

chance, I am afraid you are one of those " doubting 's " who will never be

convinced. Either that, or you are a member of the present UHMS and want things

to stay just as they are. It ain't agonna happen. We are going to make

changes. We now have an association who will represent the parents and everyone

who has a right to make a choice for HBOT for themselves or their loved ones.

If those in the UHMS want to join forces, that is great! I know there are

several members of the UHMS that would like to see this happen and will join to

make it happen. The UHMS can specialize in these 13 conditions and the IHMA

will work on the others. This way we are all winners!

Ken's letter:

Dear ,

Thank you very much for taking the time to address your concerns about the

formation of the IHMA with me. As I pointed out on the phone, any one having

concerns should be the ones joining to bring about a balanced view. Work

from the inside out not the outside in.

To address your letter I would like to make everyone aware that this is an

elected association and those that vote make the decisions. The ones elected

just do as they are instructed by the membership. So frankly I am appealing

to everyone to ban together and put me to work on the issues that will

further the availability of HBOT.

To make sure this association gets off on the right foot I want to make a few

things very clear. There will be checks and balances to make sure that we

stay on a steady course. I foresee the Executive committee being comprised

of a balanced group of individuals representing several different viewpoints.

I see the board being made up of chamber manufacturers, engineers, facility

owners, physicians, parents, business persons, patients etc. A group that

keeps each other in check with votes. If anyone interest group tries to take

over there will be the others to keep them on track. That is why it will be

balanced.

If you don't join and participate, you have no voice and therefore have no

right to complain. Take your energies and focus them on making HBOT a

professionally accepted form of therapy that can be made available to all

that need it. Everyone will need to keep the " big picture " in mind. If an

executive decision means a little harm for one part of the industry but

overall good for the rest, then we will do what we have to do.

As I told You , I am also willing to close my doors and stop publishing

HMT if that is what is needed to grow our field. That is the kind of

dedication we need from all participants on this. If anyone is not willing

or able to make that kind of sacrifice for the better good of the cause then

they need to step down and reassess their position.

In short I feel that this association should be able to at all times pass the

approval of the consumer. If it is working for the consumer then we are

doing our job, if not, then we aren't doing our job.

Anyone that has ever had an issue about our field should join to rectify

their complaints. Only by working together can we bring about positive

change.

I am very excited about having the opportunity to lead this organization and

look forward to hearing from all of you once we get started.

Sincerely,

Ken Locklear