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Multi-disciplinary Burn and Wound Service Care Team:

Burn Fellow: The fellow is an experienced resident (see below) who has enrolled in a one-year program to learn additional skills in the subspecialty of burn care management. Working with the burn surgeons and other residents, the burn fellow coordinates the medical and surgical care of acutely burned patients.

Residents: The resident is a graduate student completing a month-long rotation in the burn center as part of the graduate medical education in general surgery. Involved in all aspects of medical and surgical care for burn patients, the resident works closely with the burn fellow and burn surgeons.

Mid-level Providers: Physician Assistants, Nurse Practititioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists:
Physician Assistants work under the supervision of the medical staff and assist with the medical care of patients who have burns. Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists work closely with the medical staff to handle assessment and care of patients who have burns.

Rehabilitation Physicians: The physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians coordinate rehabilitation services, which include physical and occupational therapy. The goal of therapy is to restore the burn victim to the highest lpossible evel of physical functioning. Therapy services include: range-of-motion exercise, gait training, activities of daily living, strength and endurance training.

Nurses: The burned patient may have need of several types of specialized assistance including care immediately following the burn injury, care after surgical procedures, daily care, on-going assessment, rehabilitation, education of the patient and family in self-care needs, and end-of-life-care. The nursing staff provides it.

Respiratory Therapist: The respiratory therapist works with the multi-disciplinary team, manages and evaluats the effectiveness of mechanical ventilation, and assists with overall respiratory care needs. He or she makes sure the patient breathes properly.

Speech – Language Pathologist: The speech therapist works with the patient to assess oral speech and motor and swallowing functions. Based on that assessment, he or she recommends the appropriate diet. Speech Pathology also performs speaking valve assessments for tracheostomy-dependant patients.

Social Services Worker: The social worker assists the patient and family to arrange for transportation, lodging and access to other services such as the burn support group and counselors.

Case Manager: The case manager works to insure appropriate utilization of resources and health care services while facilitating continuuity of care, including planning for discharge.

Registered Dietician: Registered Dietitians in the burn unit evaluate caloric intake and nutritional needs to make recommendations based upon their knowledge of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, and behavior to achieve and maintain the health status of the public.

Pharmacist: The pharmacist works with the nursing and medical staff to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of medications.

Mental Health Professionals: Patients with burn injuries experience a wide range of emotional responses to the change in their health and well being. Mental health workers assist patients and their families to develop coping skills and manage the life changes they experience as a result of a burn injury.

Chaplains: Chaplains are specially trained ministers who help patients maintain their spiritual and emotional well-being, providing spiritual comfort, counsel, and prayer. Chaplains also assist patient/families with medical decisions, religious rites, and sacramental needs.

Pediatric Team: The pediatric team works in conjunction with the burn team to ensure that the special needs of the child with a burn are met. The pediatric team may help the child with play therapy and reintegration into school, and may teach the parents how to change dressings.

Researchers: Researchers are an integral part of the multi-disciplinary burn care team whose work helps to improve the medical treatment of burn and acutely ill patients.

Family: Visiting hours are flexible to allow families to be with their loved ones. Burn team members are always available to answer questions and provide counseling and support.

Burn Support Group: The support group is composed of burn survivors and their families, health care providers, fire protection workers, interested individuals, and corporate groups. The support group helps burn patients cope over time with changes caused by their injuries, works to reduce pain and suffering caused by burns and burn-related injuries, and engages in activities to raise public awareness about burn risk and preventing burn injuries.

Volunteers: Volunteers greet families, maintain coffee service, serve as liaisons between nursing staff and families, assemble patient and family information packets and assist with other clerical duties in the burn unit.

Consultants: Burn care often requires assistance and knowledge from other medical professionals. Neurologists, plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and psychiatrists are often called upon to consult in the care of burn patients.

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