A Proud History         

Treatment for burn injuries took a major step forward in the late 1960's. New
trends in caring for victims of serious injuries, including burns, showed that
patients had a much greater chance of survival if they were treated at specialized facilities, where treatment would be given by a variety of specially trained health care professionals who work together as a multidisciplinary team.

Since its inception, in 1970, the Burn Unit at MetroHealth has treated both
pediatric and adult patients. At that time the Unit consisted of two enclosed rooms in the surgical intensive care unit. All hydrotherapy tubing was done in the newly constructed physical therapy department. Other than these two intensive care beds, there was no distinct inpatient area set aside for burns.

Two years after the Burn Center opened, it was moved to its first permanent
quarters in the west wing of what was then the newly constructed twin towers.  That Unit consisted of eight double rooms with a 16 patient capacity, and included hydrotherapy areas and a specialized area for dressing changes.


Today's Regional Center

The John A. Gannon Center for Burns and Trauma opened in 1987 with 14 inpatient beds, five of which were dedicated to burn intensive care. The service has grown to become a regional burn center for Northeast Ohio.

All services that a patient may need are offered within the unit reducing the risk for infection. A burn trauma resuscitation room, wheelchair accessible shower, activity room, expanded procedure room to facilitate wound care, gym for physical and occupational therapy, a round-the-clock dressing clinic, and children's playroom are all part of today's Burn Center.


Expert Care

Each burn team member has an extensive background in the treatment of burns.  Nurses are specially trained in critical care, as well as certified in Advanced Burn Life Support. As a major teaching hospital for the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, medical students and resident physicians rotating on the Unit receive special training on the latest techniques for treating burn victims.  This rotation schedule helped MetroHealth's Burn Center become one of the first programs in the country to complete a rigorous verification process with the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association. In 1995 the unit received verification as a Comprehensive Burn Care Center.

A multidisciplinary approach to patient care is a core value of the burn team.
Specially trained physicians, nurses, occupational and physical therapists,
dietitians, pharmacists, child life specialists, social workers, clergy, psychologists, and volunteers are all part of the experienced staff dedicated to the total rehabilitation of the burn patient. The burn team also draws upon the resources of surgeons from a variety of subspecialties including plastic, neurosurgical and orthopedic surgery.

Unlike some intensive care units, patients in the Burn Center remain with the same team from admission to discharge. The return for outpatient visits and support group meetings in the same environment they received their acute care.


A Patient Profile

Patients throughout Northern Ohio and surrounding states are referred for expert treatment, including victims of extensive burns, those with severe smoke inhalation injury resulting from fires, patients who sustain serious injuries in addition to their burns and burn victims who have severe medical conditions that make survival from their injuries more difficult. The length of hospital stay varies and depends upon the severity of the patient's injuries, but averages less than one day per percentage of body surface area burned.

Scald injuries from hot liquids and molten metals and burns from contact with hot objects are the most common injuries treated in the Center. These account for the majority of all cases seen at MetroHealth's Burn facility. Toddlers and older adults are the most prone to being scalded. Flame injuries account for approximately 30% of the burn patients treated, followed by smaller numbers of patients with chemical burns and high voltage electrical injuries. Radiation burns are extremely rare.

In 25 years, the Burn Center has recorded almost 8,000 admissions, with an overall survival rate of 97%. Physicians credit modern technology, an aggressive surgical approach, new methods for early coverage of the burn wounds and new insights into providing nutritional support for the dramatic improvement in survival statistics. In 1970, only one out of two patients survived a 50% body surface burn.  Today, most patients survive burns of greater than 75% of their body. Basically, the Burn Center offers a round-the-clock outpatient service.

Beginning in 1992, all follow-up ambulatory care has been provided by the burn team in a specialty designated ambulatory area of the Burn Unit. This has permitted optimal wound healing following discharge and careful attention to prevention of disability. Patients and families receive support, understanding and education during rehabilitation and follow-up treatments. These services are available around the clock, as the clinic is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Currently the Burn Center has approximately 500 ambulatory visits per month and offers emergency consultation and evaluation of burn injuries and other major dermal wounds.


Learn Not to Burn

The staff's commitment to the community begins before a patient is even admitted to the Burn Center. Many education and prevention programs are held throughout the year. Burn surgeons and nurses conduct symposia on the primary care of burn injuries and courses are offered for medical professionals in the Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, and surgical specialists.

Local firefighters collaborate with the burn team to offer safety programs for area youngsters. The Northern Ohio Fire Fighters have developed the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children program. Local area residents donating aluminum at fire stations, provide funds for a variety of educational programs, including two fire safety vehicles. These vehicles are transported to schools, churches and other civic institutions where fire fighters offer educational programs and an opportunity for children to enter a structure simulating a house on fire where they are taught proper techniques for escape. These funds also support a special summer camp for burned children. It has proven to be of great benefit in helping children re-establish a positive self-image, as well as prepare them for reintegration into normal activities and school work.


Resources Available: If your church, school, or civic organization would like to have a speaker address the group regarding burn prevention, please contact the Burn Center at MetroHealth Medical Center, (216) 778-5643.