Multiplace chambers are the workhorses of US emergency HBOT. They hold many patients at once plus inside attendants. They treat the cases that need fast pressure changes — carbon monoxide poisoning, gas embolism, and severe soft-tissue infection.
This guide maps where to find them. The short answer is hospitals only. Wellness clinics use monoplace or soft-shell units instead.
We will cover what makes multiplace different, where they cluster, what they treat, and how to find the nearest one.
What multiplace means
A multiplace chamber is a pressure vessel big enough to hold several patients plus staff. The air inside is compressed. Patients breathe pure oxygen through masks or hoods (UHMS guidelines 2023).
The design matters in the clinic. A staff member can do CPR, manage IV lines, and place a breathing tube inside the chamber. A monoplace unit — one patient, filled with oxygen — does not allow hands-on care during treatment.
Common multiplace sizes range from 2-person rectangular units to 14-person facility units. Most hospital programs run 6 to 8 person units. The largest US sites run at academic medical centers.
For the broader monoplace vs multiplace comparison, see our monoplace vs multiplace explainer.
How many multiplace chambers operate in the US
A precise count is hard to source. UHMS does not publish chamber-type counts per facility. Our database flags about 200 US hospitals as multiplace operators.
That number is well short of the 180 UHMS-accredited centers because most accredited centers run monoplace units. Multiplace chambers cost more, need more space, and need a larger staff.
Multiplace concentration tracks academic medical centers. About 70% of the 200 sites are tied to teaching hospitals or large referral centers.
Major multiplace hubs
These are the largest and most widely cited US multiplace programs.
Duke (Durham, NC) runs one of the largest US multiplace chambers and has trained generations of hyperbaric doctors. The Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine 2024 is a field reference site.
NYU Langone Medical Center (New York, NY) runs a multiplace chamber serving Manhattan and the surrounding region. The Kimmel Center handles routine wound care and complex emergency cases.
UC San Diego Health (San Diego, CA) runs the multiplace program at Hillcrest. UCSD has a long research tradition in diving and hyperbaric medicine.
Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle, WA) runs the Pacific Northwest's reference multiplace program. The team has published widely on chronic-wound HBOT outcomes (Liu et al., Wound Repair Regen 2013).
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) runs a multiplace chamber at the main campus serving both Mayo's referrals and the surrounding region.
Other major hubs include UCLA Hyperbaric Chamber (Los Angeles), Christus Spohn (Corpus Christi, TX), and the program at the University of Pennsylvania.
What multiplace chambers treat
Multiplace use cases are mostly the emergencies and complex cases that monoplace cannot easily handle.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is the classic multiplace case. CO patients often arrive unstable, so hands-on care during the 90-minute treatment is essential. The CDC carbon monoxide guidance 2024 recommends HBOT for severe CO exposure within 6 hours.
Air bubbles in the bloodstream (gas embolism) are rare but deadly. They usually follow scuba accidents or surgery that pushes air into the blood (Moon et al., Diving Hyperb Med 2019). Multiplace chambers can quickly reach 6 ATA — the standard treatment depth — and allow hands-on care.
Severe soft-tissue infections — like necrotizing fasciitis and gas gangrene — are the third major use. These patients are critically ill, septic, and often post-surgery. Multiplace chambers allow ICU-level care during treatment. See the necrotizing soft tissue infections evidence atlas for the full study-by-study evidence breakdown.
Severe crush injury and compartment syndrome are less common but well-known multiplace uses. The UHMS Indications Manual lists both. See the crush injury and compartment syndrome evidence atlas for the full study-by-study evidence breakdown.
Where multiplace is over-represented
Multiplace chambers cluster in three types of place. The first is academic medical centers. Most programs run at university hospitals where research, teaching, and complex care converge.
The second is coastal cities with diving traffic. Coastal Florida, Southern California, and Hawaii have higher density because of diving-related gas embolism and decompression sickness cases.
The third is trauma referral regions. Multiplace chambers cluster near Level 1 trauma centers because crush injuries and severe burns flow there.
How to find your nearest multiplace center
The fastest path is to call the Divers Alert Network 24/7 hotline. DAN keeps a real-time list of working multiplace chambers in the US and can route patients to the nearest active site.
For non-urgent referrals, ask the wound-care clinic at the closest large teaching hospital. These hospitals usually list their chambers on their wound-care pages.
You can also search the UHMS directory and look for the larger university programs. Multiplace sites often note chamber size on their public pages.
For more on finding a legitimate HBOT clinic, see our HBOT clinic finder guide.
Multiplace vs monoplace: which is right for your case
The choice depends on the case and how sick the patient is. For carbon monoxide poisoning, gas embolism, or severe soft-tissue infection, multiplace is needed.
For chronic wound care — diabetic foot ulcer, radiation injury, or bone infection — monoplace works fine in most cases. The patient is stable and a single-chamber session is enough.
For off-label use — brain injury, autism, recovery — multiplace is rarely used. Most off-label HBOT in the US runs in soft-shell chambers at 1.3 ATA, well below the hospital tier.
The chamber decision is downstream of the indication decision. Confirm your indication with a physician trained in hyperbaric medicine before researching specific chambers.
Cost and insurance
Multiplace HBOT at a hospital is covered by Medicare for the 13 FDA-cleared uses (CMS LCD L33718, 2024). The patient out-of-pocket cost follows the standard Part B copay.
Private insurance plans usually track the Medicare list. Off-label multiplace HBOT is rare in the US. Hospitals do not offer multiplace for non-covered uses.
A 40-session course of hospital HBOT bills Medicare about $25,000 to $30,000.
Special considerations
Three things to know. First, you are not alone in the chamber — you sit with other patients and at least one staff member. Privacy is limited.
Second, you breathe oxygen through a mask or hood, not the air around you. The mask must seal. Patients with facial hair or unusual face shapes may struggle.
Third, fear of small spaces is a real concern but easier to manage here than in monoplace. The chamber is larger and you can see and talk to staff. See our claustrophobia guide for more.
Pediatric multiplace
A small number of US children's hospitals run pediatric multiplace chambers or share adult chambers for pediatric cases. Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are the most cited.
Pediatric multiplace use cases mirror adult ones: CO poisoning, severe radiation tissue injury after childhood cancer, and rare soft-tissue infections. Most pediatric HBOT in the US is in adult chambers with parent or staff inside attendants.
For pediatric chamber considerations more broadly, see our pediatric chamber review.
Bottom line
Multiplace HBOT chambers are hospital-only and cluster at teaching hospitals. About 200 US hospitals run one. They handle the emergencies and complex cases that monoplace cannot.
If you have an urgent case that may need HBOT — CO exposure, scuba accident, severe infection — call DAN or your nearest Level 1 trauma center. For routine chronic-wound HBOT, monoplace is the common path.
If you are pursuing off-label HBOT, multiplace is rarely an option. Off-label care in the US runs at wellness clinics in soft-shell chambers, with weaker data and different costs.
Related Reading
- Monoplace vs multiplace HBOT chambers
- Hard chamber vs soft chamber HBOT: real clinical differences
- UHMS-accredited HBOT facilities: what certification means
- How to find a legitimate HBOT clinic near you
- FDA-cleared HBOT chambers: complete list
Frequently asked questions
How many multiplace HBOT chambers are in the US?
About 200 US hospitals operate multiplace chambers, mostly at academic medical centers. Most are UHMS-accredited and bill Medicare for the 13 FDA-cleared indications.
Can I get multiplace HBOT for off-label conditions?
Almost never. Hospital multiplace programs treat the 13 FDA-cleared indications. Off-label HBOT in the US runs at wellness clinics in soft-shell chambers, not hospital multiplace.
Which is better, monoplace or multiplace?
It depends on the case. Multiplace is required for emergencies and complex cases needing hands-on care. Monoplace works for stable chronic-wound patients and most routine HBOT.
How fast can a multiplace chamber pressurize?
Multiplace chambers can pressurize to 6 ATA within minutes — fast enough to treat acute gas embolism. Monoplace chambers typically reach 2.5 ATA in 10 to 15 minutes.
How do I find the nearest multiplace chamber in an emergency?
Call the Divers Alert Network 24/7 hotline. DAN maintains a real-time list of active multiplace chambers and can route emergencies to the nearest available facility.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is informational and does not constitute medical advice. HBOT carries real risks including ear injury, oxygen-related harm, and chamber fire. For medical emergencies that may need hyperbaric care, call 911 or the Divers Alert Network. The FDA has cleared HBOT for 13 specific uses; uses outside that list are off-label.
-- The HBOT Finder Team