Key takeaways
- Aviv Clinics operates the clinical application of the Sagol Center / Efrati Lab research protocols, with current centres in Florida (The Villages) and Dubai.
- More than 1,000 patients have completed the proprietary 12-week Aviv Medical Program.
- The program combines 60 HBOT sessions at 2.0 ATA with structured cognitive training, physical training, and nutritional coaching — not HBOT alone.
- Target indications: post-concussive syndrome, long COVID, chronic cognitive complaints, healthy-aging/longevity.
- Price point is premium ($50,000+ typical for the full program) and the model is cash-pay — not covered by insurance.
What Aviv Clinics is
Aviv Clinics is the direct clinical application of research from the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel — Shai Efrati's research base. Where the Sagol Center is primarily an academic/research institution running clinical trials, Aviv provides a commercial clinical program applying the research-validated protocols at scale.
Current locations: Florida (The Villages, serving a large retiree population) and Dubai (regional centre for Middle East and international patients). Over 1,000 individuals have completed the Aviv Medical Program.
The Aviv Medical Program
What distinguishes Aviv is that it does not sell HBOT alone. The program is a structured 12-week multidisciplinary intervention:
- 60 HBOT sessions at 2.0 ATA, 90 minutes each, five days per week — matching the research-validated Efrati Lab protocol
- Cognitive training — individualised sessions designed to work alongside HBOT-induced neuroplasticity
- Physical training — structured programs targeting cardiovascular, strength, and balance measures
- Nutritional coaching — personalised dietary guidance to support metabolic and brain health
- Diagnostic assessments — baseline and post-program cognitive testing, imaging, functional measures
- Ongoing monitoring — mid-program check-ins and post-program follow-up
The explicit framing is that HBOT provides a window of enhanced neuroplasticity and tissue repair, and the structured cognitive/physical/nutritional components take advantage of that window to drive lasting functional gains.
Who Aviv targets
Primary target populations:
- Post-concussive syndrome — chronic cognitive and functional symptoms after mild TBI
- Long COVID / PASC — cognitive, fatigue, and physical symptoms persisting after SARS-CoV-2
- Chronic cognitive complaints — subjective cognitive decline, early mild cognitive impairment
- Healthy aging / longevity — pre-emptive intervention in high-functioning older adults seeking to maintain cognitive and physical capacity
The last category — healthy aging — is where Aviv has leaned most heavily into longevity marketing. The connection to the Hachmo 2020 telomere paper is foundational to this positioning, though as covered elsewhere, the clinical durability of the telomere findings remains uncharacterised.
The pricing and access reality
The Aviv Medical Program is premium-priced. In the US market, the full 12-week program typically runs $50,000+ depending on specific services included. This is substantially higher than standalone HBOT at other clinics — a full 40-60 session cash-pay HBOT course at a non-Aviv clinic typically runs $6,000-$18,000.
The price difference reflects the included multidisciplinary components (cognitive training, physical training, nutritional coaching, diagnostic assessments) and the facility and staffing profile. It is not a price for HBOT alone.
None of this is covered by insurance. The Aviv targets are off-label HBOT indications; US Medicare and private payers do not reimburse any component of the program.
How Aviv relates to the research
The Sagol Center / Efrati Lab research continues through 2024-2025 with new publications in long COVID, fibromyalgia (Zilberman-Itskovich 2024 childhood sexual abuse cohort), and ongoing work. Aviv applies the clinical protocols validated in those trials.
What Aviv has not done — and what would be a meaningful contribution — is publish independent long-term outcome data from its 1,000+ patient population. A multi-year follow-up of Aviv patients, with standardised cognitive, functional, and quality-of-life measures, would add substantially to the research base. Internal outcome tracking presumably exists; peer-reviewed publication of it would be valuable.
Alternatives for patients
For patients considering the Aviv model, honest alternatives include:
- Standalone Efrati-protocol HBOT — many hyperbaric clinics worldwide now offer 2.0 ATA / 40-60 session courses modelled on the research. Cost is 1/3 to 1/10 of the Aviv program. The patient takes responsibility for parallel cognitive training, exercise, and nutrition independently.
- UHMS-accredited clinical facility — appropriate for UHMS-approved indications. Insurance-covered. Not generally offering 2.0 ATA 40-session courses for off-label indications.
- Clinical trial enrollment — our clinical trials tracker pulls live listings from ClinicalTrials.gov. Zero-cost access for enrolled participants.
- State veterans program — if a veteran resident of one of 10 states with HBOT access legislation.
Where this fits
Aviv represents the current high-water mark of commercial HBOT programming — premium multidisciplinary care built on peer-reviewed research protocols, delivered at scale, targeting an affluent cash-pay market. Whether the premium pricing is justified by outcomes vs. alternative HBOT delivery models is an empirical question that the Aviv internal data could answer but has not yet publicly addressed.
For patients evaluating options, the key questions are: (1) is the condition one where the Efrati-protocol HBOT has evidence; (2) is the integrated multidisciplinary model worth the premium vs. HBOT alone; (3) can the budget support the cash-pay commitment. If yes to all three, Aviv is a defensible option. If no to any, the cheaper standalone HBOT alternatives are reasonable.
Browse our full clinic directory for alternative HBOT facilities including UHMS-accredited centres, state veterans programs, and research-affiliated clinics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aviv the only clinic doing the Efrati protocol?
No — many HBOT clinics worldwide now offer 2.0 ATA / 40-60 session courses modelled on the Efrati Lab research. Aviv is distinctive for packaging HBOT within a structured 12-week multidisciplinary program (cognitive training, physical training, nutrition) rather than HBOT alone.
How much does the Aviv program cost?
The full 12-week Aviv Medical Program is premium-priced, typically $50,000+ in the US market. This covers the 60 HBOT sessions, cognitive and physical training sessions, nutritional coaching, diagnostic assessments, and ongoing monitoring. Standalone HBOT at other clinics is significantly cheaper ($6,000-$18,000 for 40 sessions cash-pay).
Does Aviv publish outcome data?
The Sagol Center / Efrati Lab publishes extensively (Zilberman-Itskovich, Hachmo, Hadanny papers). Aviv Clinics itself does not publish patient-level outcome data in peer-reviewed form. Independent long-term outcome tracking across the 1,000+ Aviv patients would be a valuable addition to the evidence base.
Is this the right choice for me?
Depends on budget, condition, and treatment preferences. Aviv is appropriate for patients wanting an integrated multidisciplinary program and who can afford the price. For patients wanting HBOT alone at Efrati-protocol dose, many UHMS-accredited or Efrati-trained clinics offer 2.0 ATA / 40-session courses at substantially lower cost.
