European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine

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The scope and goals of the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) are defined as follows:

• Studying and defining common indications for hyperbaric therapy, research and therapy protocols, common standards for therapeutic and technical procedures, equipment and personnel, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness criteria.
• Acting as a representative body with the European health authorities.
• Promoting further cooperation among existing scientific organizations involved in the field of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine.

Structure and regulations:

The ECHM is structured around 3 bodies:

• The ECHM Board of Representatives (BR) formed by all the current leaders of the Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine associations existing in the European countries. The ECHM BR is the governing body of the ECHM.
• The ECHM College of Advisors formed by the immediate past and past presidents of these societies, invited distinguished baromedical scientists and clinicians, nominated and elected by a majority vote of the ECHM EB or BD, and the past presidents of the ECHM.
• The ECHM Executive Board formed by 9 - 12 members coming from at least 1/2 + 1 European countries. The ECHM EB is elected by the ECHM Board of Representatives and is in charge of the everyday business.

ECHM is represented by its President who is elected by the BR. Other specific offices are Vice President in charge of international affairs, General Secretary and Treasurer.

ECHM operates through permanent and ad-hoc sub Committees. Permanent sub Committees are:

Workshop and Consensus Conference Bureau:

• Scope: Topics, Scientific Committee and Jury member selection, location and date, local organiser, publication.
• Current members: A. Marroni, D. Mathieu, J. Kot

Finance Bureau:

• Scope: Modality and procedure to find financial support.
• Current member: J. Schmutz

Research Sub Committee:

• Scope: to establish guidelines in order to improve the level of fundamental / clinical research in Hyperbaric Medicine, to propose and to implement multicentric studies.
• Current members: the COST B 14 action by its working groups B and C serves as Research Sub Committee.

Education and Training sub Committee:

• Scope: to establish recommendation and guidelines for training and continuous education of both medical and non medical persons involved in Hyperbaric Medicine activity (ies).
• Current members: J. Desola, J. Wendling, P. Longobardi, J. Kot.

Current achievements of the ECHM:

• The definition of European standards for HBO indications
• ECHM recommendations for safety in multiplace medical hyperbaric chambers
• Proposals for personnel education and training policies of the staff of a Hyperbaric Medical Centres, to be implemented in all interested European Countries. A definition of the profile and main caracteristics of any essential member of the staff, was agreed in the 1st Consensus Congress. A Joint Medical Subcomission with the European Diving Techniology Committee (EDTC) was suggested, and laterly created, which has actively worked after then. A full programm of minimal standards for Education of Physicians was delivered in 1996, which will be completed in the near future for the remaining members of the staff of Hyperbaric Medical Centers.
• Creation of a research network by inclusion of HBO evaluation in the COST B14 program of the European Union.

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Updated: 29.11.2008 by Webmaster