Patient Finds Wound-Healing Relief from Hoag Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

The entire “Star Wars” oeuvre (the old stuff and the new stuff). “Andor.” “The Mandalorian.”

While undergoing treatment at the Sally & Joseph Warpinski Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine Center, patients are invited to pass the time by watching movies or TV. Jeffrey Diercksmeier devoted his 50 hours of healing to the George Lucas universe – an apt choice for the otherworldly care for which Hoag is known.

Best of all, the Costa Mesa resident said he did not have to travel to a galaxy far, far away for his treatment.

“We are truly blessed to have Hoag in Orange County, with everything that the hospital has here,” said Diercksmeier.

Diercksmeier suffered a wound to his bladder and experienced so much blood in his urine that he became slightly anemic after getting treatment at another hospital. Diercksmeier’s doctors recommended that he undergo hyperbaric treatment, which uses oxygen to promote natural healing.

Unfortunately, his doctors did not know of any facilities to recommend. Through an online search, Diercksmeier found that hyperbaric treatment was offered at Hoag, a cutting-edge facility he already knew and trusted.

“Two of my kids are Hoagies, all three of my grandkids are Hoagies,” he said. “We’re very lucky to have a world-class medical center in our backyard.”

Michael Bain, M.D., medical director of the center, immediately put Diercksmeier at ease, explaining the treatment goals and what to expect. The staff smoothed out insurance hiccups, communicated regularly with Diercksmeier’s treatment team, and supported him emotionally and physically during his course of healing.

“David and Roy are the technologists at the center, and they are health care heroes,” he said. “Everyone there is just great.”

After 50 treatments, the bleeding has decreased by 95%, and he experiences no pain or fatigue, but the goal is to completely stop his bleeding. So, after a four-month hiatus, he is back in the hyperbaric chamber (this time watching “The Sopranos”).

Diercksmeier is understandably eager to complete this next round of treatment, but he said he doesn’t mind returning to the spa-like environment and world-class care of the center.

“Everything about my experience at Hoag – from the way they worked with my insurance, the care you get – they know what they’re doing. We are so fortunate to have Hoag.”