Baptist Health Hardin offers program to support Kentucky veterans with brain injury or trauma
ELIZABETHTOWN, KY (Nov. 7, 2025) – Baptist Health Hardin is collaborating with Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Kentucky Veterans, Inc. (HBOT4KYVETS, Inc.), a 501(c)(3) organization, to provide greater access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI). An estimated 12,000 veterans with TBI are residing in Kentucky who could benefit from this treatment.
Baptist Health Hardin is the fifth hospital in the state to offer this service. HBOT4KYVETS, Inc. assists in covering the costs of testing and treatment for qualifying veterans through a $1.5 million state-provided budgeted program, which is administered through the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs – the program is currently available through June 30, 2026, under state law (KRS 217.930-942). Approval of program funding to June 2028 with state legislators is currently underway.
Through the generous support of donors to Baptist Health Foundation Hardin, funding has been secured to purchase a fourth hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This chamber is expected to arrive later this year and will expand treatment capacity for veterans once installed. Veterans can currently receive care with the existing chambers, and the additional chamber will allow even more veterans to access timely therapy close to home.
“Generations of military families have strengthened our community by calling it ‘home’ and we are proud to honor their sacrifices and support their health,” said Baptist Health Hardin President Robert Ramey. “This Veterans Day, and every day, we recognize the courage and sacrifices of our veterans and their families. Programs like HBOT can provide meaningful support for health and wellbeing. We are grateful to Baptist Health Foundation Hardin and its donors for helping us expand access to this therapy and further our mission to deliver high-quality care to those who have given so much in service.”
The treatment program ranges from 40 to 120 one-hour sessions, during which participants breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The treatment promotes tissue recovery by increasing oxygenation by 700-1,100%. Since 2007, a total of 28 studies and trials across the country involving more than 900 veterans and patients have been completed, which show its effectiveness at treating TBI. Additionally, 13 states have enacted HBOT legislation and seven have funded over $33 million in HBOT treatments.
“I was delighted when this project came up for funding during a Foundation Board of Directors meeting,” said Krista Stevens, Baptist Health Foundation Hardin board member. “As a veteran and the owner of a company that serves the military, this need is close to my heart. Our board quickly approved the request to purchase an additional HBOT chamber to support this effort to help those who served.”
Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Sammy Lee Davis shared his experience with HBOT stating, “hyperbaric oxygen treatment has improved my mind, my body…it’s amazing. I would like to have every veteran be able to experience this.” Read more about Sgt. Davis’s story, here.
Kentucky Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Kyle Lankford also shared his journey with HBOT through HBOT4KYVETS, Inc., which can be viewed here.
“The selfless men and women who serve in uniform protecting our freedom deserve to have every available health care option to them,” said Eric Koleda, Vietnam-era U. S. Air Force veteran, co-founder and director for HBOT4KYVETS, Inc. “We encourage veterans and our community to support this treatment and consider donating to our cause to help those who served our country.”
Veterans interested in the program can contact the Baptist Health Hardin Wound Care Center at 270.706.1010, or HBOT4KYVETS at 502.938.1300.
HBOT4KYVETS, Inc., continues to seek additional support from government, private and the public sectors to expand access to HBOT for Kentucky veterans. Visit HBOT4KYVETS.com to donate or sign up for treatment.