Pioneering center was one of the first dedicated burn centers in the country and the first in Michigan
More than 125 people attended, including current and former members of the U-M burn team, former patients, fire fighters, volunteers, donors, friends and other guests. Everyone was treated to an impressive review of the past 50 years and a look ahead to the next 50.
(Media-Newswire.com) - ANN ARBOR, Mich - Unless you or someone you know has been treated for burns in the University of Michigan’s Burn Center, you probably aren’t aware of this amazing resource.
More than 125 people attended, including current and former members of the U-M burn team, former patients, fire fighters, volunteers, donors, friends and other guests. Everyone was treated to an impressive review of the past 50 years and a look ahead to the next 50.
People who attended heard from a variety of speakers, including its co-founder, Irving Feller, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Surgery; current director of the Burn Center, Stewart C. Wang, M.D., Ph.D.; and James O. Woolliscroft, M.D., dean, U-MMedicalSchool. A poignant documentary video about the Burn Center was also premiered.
“The founders of the Burn Center 50 years ago were visionary,” said Stewart C. Wang, M.D., Ph.D., director, U-MBurn Center. “The original missions and values remain true and relevant: exceptional patient care, multidisciplinary teamwork, translational research, injury prevention and community outreach, and education”
During its five decades, there have been tremendous improvements in burn care. The U-MBurn Center has transformed from a local burn unit to an internationally recognized leader in burn clinical care, education, research and injury prevention.
How the U-MBurn Center Evolved
The Burn Center was the idea of third-year U-M surgical resident, Irving Feller, M.D., who was deeply moved in 1957 when two children died from burns involving only a small area of their bodies. He then decided to dedicate himself to improving the care for burn patients.
“They were similar in age to my own children,” says Feller.
In the 1950s, there was not a specialized program or lead physician for managing the injuries of burn patients at the U-M hospital. Only four hospitals in the country offered any kind of dedicated burn care.
Feller’s investigation revealed that severe burn injuries could produce life-threatening complications, including systemic infections and organ systems failure, which accounted for most in-hospital deaths of burn victims. Most patients with burns greater than 25 percent total body surface area did not survive back then.
He demonstrated that an organized, systematic approach to burn care and a dedicated “burn team” could significantly save lives. In 1958, he was appointed clinical director of the burn program at U-M. The University of Michigan Burn Center was established the following year, as a result of his energy, insights and visionary leadership. It was one of the first dedicated burn centers in the country and the first in Michigan.
In the late 1950s, Feller determined that a formalized protocol of burn injuries and a dedicated “burn team” could drastically improve patient outcomes. Over the years, the burn team approach proved invaluable and expanded to include doctors, nursing staff, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, plastic surgery, psychiatrists, pediatricians, dieticians, microbiologists, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, injury prevention, infection control and others.
“Using new insights from clinical as well as basic science research, our entire multidisciplinary team continually works to expand our efforts to improve the efficacy, safety, cost and long-term outcome of our care for the burn-injured patient,” says Wang.
Early burn teams recognized that collecting patient data for trend analysis would help them identify new methods of treatment for burn injuries. This led to the establishment of National Burn Seminars and a National Burn Information Exchange database. These landmark innovations grew into the modern day American Burn Association, National Burn Repository and National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons burn registry database.
A new Burn Center was established and dedicated in 1986. It was designed based on research findings and the Burn Center’s 27-year experience.
In 1991, the trauma patient population was added and the center was renamed the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center. The American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons verify it as both a burn center and Level-1 Trauma Center ( the highest rating ).
Looking Ahead
As to the future, Wang says, “Just as Dr. Feller mentored the formation of many burn teams in the Midwest, we were asked to be the StateBurnCoordinatingCenter for the State of Michigan to help all burn centers and medical centers prepare for possible disasters.”
The Burn Center authored and now leads what is considered to be a model for the rest of the U.S. and Canada. As the SBCC, it is working with government agencies and mentoring other medical centers to improve the region’s preparedness for burn mass casualty incidents.
Throughout its history, the Burn Center has promoted education and intervention in the community. Many educational and training publications, films and materials have been produced. It plans to expand its collaborations and enhance its partnership with firefighters to increase injury prevention education efforts throughout our communities in Michigan and beyond.
“We also will be working more closely with schools and communities to facilitate the full re-integration of our burn survivors back into society,” says Wang.
This story was released on 2009-10-12. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.
