AVƵ

CAS Care and Operational Management in Hyperbaric Conditions, Hyperbaric Fitness 2025

A unique training programme in Switzerland that allows the development of scientific knowledge in underwater and hyperbaric medicine in interaction with emergency medicine and occupational medicine. It opens the field to research.

Information

Period

October 2025 - September 2026
15 ECTS credits
The complete study programme (2 thematic modules) takes place over 2 semesters.

Language

English

Format

Blended learning

Contact

Christelle GERMANN
+41 (0)22 379 78 42
cashyperbare(at)unige.ch

Location

Geneva

Registration

Registration deadline

30 June 2025
Modules can be followed individually

Fees:

  • CAS Care and Operational Management in Hyperbaric Conditions, Hyperbaric Fitness: CHF 3'900.-
  • “Hyperbaric Operator” module: CHF 2’700.-

Priority is given to candidates registered for the full CAS.

Contribution to the SDGs

Objectives

  • Train qualified nurses and technicians in the field of underwater and hyperbaric medicine
  • Acquire the theoretical and practical fundamentals of underwater and hyperbaric medicine

Audience

The Hyperbaric Operator module is open to anyone, whereas the CAS Care and Operational Managment in Hyperbaric Conditions, Hyperbaric Fitness is for nurses exclusively.

Programme

2 modules:

  • Hyperbaric Operator
  • Hyperbaric Nurse

Director(s)

Prof. Thibaut DESMETTRE, Faculty of Medicine, AVƵ

Coordinator(s)

Dr Pierre LOUGE and Nicolas FOURQUET, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG)

Accreditation

The CAS complies with the European standards of the EBAss (European Baromedical Association). These 2 levels are recognised by the European College of Baromedicine (ECB / EBAss). The steps to obtain the various equivalences of certificates or diplomas (French DGT or EBass) are the responsibility of the candidate.

Fee

2700 CHF

Speakers

Dr Rodrigue Pignel

Description

Topics

  • Physical and physiological bases
  • Pressure / O2 effect
  • Principle of HBO
  • Emergency operations
  • Therapeutic and decompression tables
  • Safety and hygiene in a hyperbaric environment
  • Regulations
  • Practical training (6 days)

Competences

  • Operate the hyperbaric chamber and all its annexes (compressor, oxygen reserve, etc.) in complete safety
  • Calculate, apply and check the decompression tables for the occupants in the room and if necessary, apply the decompression stops
  • Manage, control and document hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) treatments in accordance with the imposed procedures

Final examination

3 June 2026 (on-site)

Final work presentation
11 September 2026 (online)

Planning

Application deadline: 30.06.2025 (can be postponed on request)

on request, 4 days

Speakers

Nicolas Fourquet

Description

Topics

  • Physiological aspects of HBOT
  • Indications of HBOT
  • Incidents and contraindications of HBOT
  • Organization and operation of a hyperbaric system
  • Practical courses (13 days)

Competences

  • Apply the care measures belonging to the common pathologies of hyperbaric therapy that are applied to patients in a hyperbaric chamber
  • Assist patients inside the hyperbaric chamber, give special care to the specific conditions of the hyperbaric environment

Final examination

3 June 2026 (on-site)

Final work presentation

11 September 2026 (online)

Planning

In addition to M1 Hyperbaric Operator

Application deadline: 30.06.2025

  • 9, 10 and 11 Octobrer 2025 (on-site)
  • 10, 11 and 12 December 2025 (online)
  • 16 March 2026 (online)
  • 20 March 2026 (Lille, France) Switzerland/France international training day
  • 21 March 2026 (Lille, France) Optional but recommended – Hyperbaric Medicine and Diving Congress
  • 23, 24, 25 April 2026 (on-site)

Assessment

The operator module is subject to a written evaluation. This assessment must be validated by the nurses to continue the CAS. The CAS is assessed by a final exam which is organized at the end of the training. The hours of professional practice are the subject of certificates of participation which must be sent by the student to the person in charge of the module concerned. The end-of-studies work is compulsory for obtaining the CAS.

Pedagogical method

The complete programme of studies (2 thematic modules) takes place over 2 semesters, articulating theoretical teaching and practical cases, hours of professional practice in the form of traineeship, a final exam and a final work.

Diploma awarded

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Care and Operational Managment in Hyperbaric Condisitons, Hyperbaric Fitness / Certificat de formation continue (CAS) en Soins et conduite opérationnelle en milieu hyperbare, aptitude à l’hyperbarie is awarded by the Faculty of Medicine of the AVƵ. It corresponds to the acquisition of 15 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), i. e. 375 hours of work including 280 hours of teaching (100 hours of internship and 180 hours of theoretical instruction). It is obtained when all of the training has been completed and the student has met the requirements of the knowledge test.

Admission criteria

For the CAS

  • Bachelor of science from a HES in nursing or deemed equivalent
  • Valid BLS
  • Medical examination of no contraindication to diving or Medical examination of Aptitude for diving

For the operator module

  • Valid BLS
  • Medical examination of no contraindication to diving or Medical examination of Aptitude for diving
  • Scuba diving experience is preferred

Steering committee

Director

Prof. Thibaut DESMETTRE, Emergency Department of Geneva AVƵ Hospitals (HUG), Department of Acute Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, AVƵ

Experts

  • Nicolas FOURQUET, Orthopedic Unit, Surgery Department, HUG
  • Dr Rodrigue PIGNEL, Physician in charge of the Hyperbaric Medicine Program, Emergency Department, Department of Acute Medicine, HUG

Members

  • Prof. Sylvain BOET, Deputy Physician, Hyperbaric Medicine, Emergency Department, Department of Acute Medicine, HUG
  • Prof. Laszlo VUTSKITS, Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacy and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, AVƵ
  • Dr Jérôme STIRNEMANN, Privat-Docent, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, AVƵ, HUG

Scientific committee

  • Dr Jean-Yves BERNEY, Hyperbaric Medicine, Emergency Department, Department of Acute Medicine, HUG
  • Dr Pierre LOUGE, Hyperbaric Medicine, Emergency Department, Department of Acute Medicine, HUG
  • Dr Rodrigue PIGNEL, Physician in charge of the Hyperbaric Medicine Program, Emergency Department, Department of Acute Medicine, HUG

Detailed fees

  • CAS Care and Operational Management in Hyperbaric Conditions, Hyperbaric Fitness: CHF 3'800.-
  • “Hyperbaric Operator” module: CHF 2’600.-

Priority is given to candidates registered for the full CAS.

Schedule

8h30-18h00

Researchers and professors of the Universities, experts of the field at the Swiss and international level:

  • Pr C. Balestra, Brussels, Belgium
  • Pr J.E. Blateau, Toulon, France
  • Dr M. Gelsomino, Basel, Switzerland
  • Dr P. Germonpré, Brussels, Belgium
  • Dr M. Coulange, Marseille, France
  • Dr T. Joffre, Lyon, France

Contribution to the SDGs