Orlando Health's Burn Center at Orlando Regional Medical Center recently achieved verification as an adult burn center by the American Burn Association. The designation reflects Orlando Health's commitment to excellence and its dedication to providing quality care to patients. Orlando Health's Burn Center is the only verified burn center in Orlando.

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"Earning this true mark of distinction demonstrates to our patients and their families we are dedicated to delivering high quality patient care to patients during the continuum of care, from the time of injury through rehabilitation," said Howard Smith, MD, director, Burn Service at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

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The American Burn Association offers the program to verify that a burn center is meeting the highest current standards of care for patients with burn injuries. Caring for patients with burn injuries requires specialty training, a cohesive, comprehensive multidisciplinary team and dedicated resources to provide the highest level of care and best outcomes. The verification program entails a rigorous review process designed to examine all burn center resources to ensure the provision of optimal care from the time of injury through rehabilitation to re-integration back into the community. To achieve verification, a burn center must meet standards for organizational structure, injury prevention and education, qualifications and training of personnel, facilities and resources.

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"Burns are the fourth leading cause of injury in the United States and can occur from many types of injuries including thermal, chemical, friction, radiation and/or electrical exposure," said Dr. Smith. "Though all burns are different and can vary greatly in degree, depth and surface area, all burns require specialized treatment to reduce the risk of infection, help with healing, and ensure the best outcomes possible. Our team is experienced with treatment of all levels of burn care."

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The team at Orlando Health's Burn Center consists of a medical director, multiple physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, pharmacists, certified rehabilitation therapists, registered nurses, licensed clinical social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, neuropsychologists, registered dietitians, case managers and other specialists as needed. In addition to the medical team, patients and family members play an integral part in setting rehabilitation goals and recovery.