HealMedO2 Medical Group operates as a specialized outpatient wound healing center in National City, serving the greater San Diego area with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and advanced wound care treatments. The facility focuses on treating chronic, non-healing wounds that haven't responded to conventional treatment methods. Located at 655 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200, the center provides an alternative to hospital-based wound care in a dedicated outpatient setting designed specifically for complex wound management.
The practice's core treatment revolves around hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a medical treatment that's been in use since the 1800s but has evolved significantly with modern technology. Patients breathe 100% pure oxygen inside pressurized chambers that maintain atmospheric pressure two to three times higher than normal. This increased pressure allows blood plasma to carry 10 to 15 times more oxygen than usual, accelerating the body's natural healing processes while reducing inflammation and fighting infection.
HealMedO2's multidisciplinary team brings together specialists from various medical backgrounds including vascular surgery, podiatry, infectious disease management, and hyperbaric medicine. Dr. Guttikonda, known as Dr. G to his patients, leads the surgical aspects as a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who trained in New York City. The team maintains privileges at major San Diego hospitals including Sharp, Kindred, and Paradise Valley, ensuring continuity of care when hospital services are needed.
The center treats a wide range of wound conditions, with diabetic foot ulcers being one of the most common issues they address. Other conditions include radiation tissue damage from cancer treatments, pressure ulcers (bedsores), chronic bone infections (osteomyelitis), and venous stasis ulcers caused by poor circulation. They also handle compromised skin grafts and flaps, surgical wounds that won't heal properly, arterial ulcers, and various other chronic wound conditions that have resisted standard treatment approaches.
FDA approval covers 13 specific conditions for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, including diabetic foot ulcers that haven't healed despite standard treatment, late effects of radiation on bone and soft tissue, necrotizing soft tissue infections, and thermal burns. Medicare and many insurance plans cover treatment for these FDA-approved conditions. The center also treats conditions that show promise with HBOT but haven't received FDA clearance yet, such as long COVID symptoms, traumatic brain injury, sports injuries, and post-surgical non-healing wounds, though these require alternative payment arrangements.
Treatment sessions typically last about two hours, with the total number of sessions varying based on each patient's specific diagnosis and healing progress. Before entering the hyperbaric chamber, patients change into HBOT-approved gowns or scrubs since certain items like battery-powered devices, electronics, and lighters cannot safely enter the pressurized environment. The medical team provides detailed preparation instructions and discusses the complete care plan before starting treatment.
One distinctive aspect of HealMedO2's approach is that patients don't need a referral from their primary care physician to receive evaluation or treatment. While the center encourages collaboration with primary doctors and keeps them involved in the overall treatment plan, direct access allows patients to seek specialized wound care without delays. This open-access model reflects their commitment to preventing complications, particularly major lower limb amputations that can result from untreated diabetic wounds.
The facility emphasizes limb preservation as a primary goal, recognizing that chronic wounds, especially in diabetic patients, can lead to amputation if not properly managed. Their specialists work to prevent these outcomes through aggressive wound treatment combined with patient education on wound management, lifestyle modifications, and early intervention strategies. This preventive approach aims to reduce wound recurrence and improve long-term outcomes for patients with chronic conditions.
Payment options accommodate various financial situations, with the center accepting Medicare and most insurance plans for covered conditions. For treatments that fall outside insurance coverage, the office works with patients to establish payment plans. This flexibility ensures that potentially beneficial treatments remain accessible even when insurance companies haven't yet recognized newer applications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
The outpatient model offers several advantages over hospital-based wound care, including more convenient scheduling, a specialized environment focused solely on wound healing, and typically lower costs than hospital settings. Patients can receive advanced treatments without the complexity of hospital admissions, and the dedicated wound care environment allows for more personalized attention from specialists who focus exclusively on wound healing.
HealMedO2 maintains regular business hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, remaining closed on weekends. The consistent schedule allows patients to plan their treatment sessions around work and other commitments. The center's location in National City provides accessibility to residents throughout San Diego County, with patients traveling from various neighborhoods to access their specialized services.
Educational components complement the clinical treatments, with the team providing guidance on wound care between visits, nutrition optimization for healing, and risk factor modification. This comprehensive approach addresses not just the immediate wound but also the underlying factors that may impair healing or cause recurrence. Patients learn to recognize early warning signs and understand when to seek professional care for wound concerns.
Contact options include phone consultation at (619) 470-4325, fax communications at (619) 472-4538, and email inquiries through info@HealMedO2.com. The center encourages potential patients to reach out with questions about their specific conditions or to schedule evaluations. Their intake process begins with a comprehensive wound assessment to determine the most appropriate treatment protocol for each individual case, ensuring that every patient receives a customized care plan tailored to their specific wound type and overall health status.
