Pediatric Burn Teams at Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati

Appliance Laboratory

Our staff works closely with nurses and therapists to design special appliances suited to each child's needs. The appliances help manage scars from a burn injury. Clear plastic face masks and spandex pressure garments, such as gloves or vests, are designed, sewn and custom-fitted or patients. These special items keep even pressure over the scarred or grafted areas to help keep the scars flat. The face masks and pressure garments are worn 23 hours/day for at least 12-24 months after the injury.

Child Life

Being in the hospital can be a stressful event for a child and their family. Child life is a program that supports the child's emotional development and social needs while in the hospital. In the activity rooms, children have daily sessions to learn more about burn care, play, develop new skills, talk about feelings and participate in art, music, crafts and games. Certified child life specialists plan weekly cooking groups, field trips, recreation and special events to help reduce the stress of a hospital stay. The activity rooms are relaxing, safe environments to explore and socialize with other children and their families. Children who are not well enough to come to the activity rooms are seen in their rooms by a child life specialist.

Family Services/Care Coordination

During a child's stay, care coordinators in family services are available to assist the families in many ways. A social worker/care coordinator is assigned to each new family to offer counseling, support, housing and financial assistance while their child is at Shriners Hospitals. When a family needs help with counseling or physical therapy at home, the care coordinators are there to help. This office also helps families coordinate communications with sponsoring Shriners. For additional information on resources for patients and families with a burn injury, visit http://www.phoenix-society.org/ or http://www.disabilityresources.org/.

Nursing Services

Each child admitted is assigned a primary nurse who coordinates their care program with the burn team. The pediatric burn rehabilitation care unit cares for children who have been in our system for several years and need releases or grafts for scar contractures. Children needing extensive physical therapy or repair of congenital deformities are also treated on this unit. The acute care unit is where children with new or fresh burns receive care. Depending on the extent of the injury, a child could be hospitalized for a week to several months. Each unit offers families the option of rooming-in with their child.

Occupational & Physical Therapy (OT/PT)

The goal of the OT/PT department is to prevent the devastating deformities that can result from a burn injury. Therapists work with patients and families to achieve the best functional and cosmetic results. They develop individualized programs to help patients return to their pre-burn level of activity. Therapy involves work in the areas of mobility, scar management, self-care and activities of daily living. Various treatments and equipment, such as a swing, stationary bike, trampoline and rowing machine are used in a gym-like environment to encourage movement.

Outpatient Department (OPD)

OPD provides care for patients discharged from the hospital, new referrals for reconstructive surgery, and direct referrals of small and minor pediatric burns. The burn team, composed of physicians, nurses, therapists, and social workers/care coordinators, work together to evaluate the child's progress and to develop a plan of care. Fourteen exam rooms and services in the areas of garment fabrication, brace manufacturing and fitting, and radiology allow us to provide services in a timely manner. Local Shriners often provide transportation back and forth to the hospital for clinic appointments. In addition to the services provided here, the staff travels and holds outreach clinics in Charlotte, N.C.; Tampa, Fla.; and Sioux Falls, S.D. The department also offers telemedicine visits when appropriate.

Patient Education/Schoolroom

Our school program is operated in conjunction with Cincinnati Public Schools. The hospital employs two teachers who are assisted by volunteers. The schoolroom is open year round to all school age children who are medically able to attend classes. Patients are also seen at the bedside if they are not able to leave their room. School assignments are brought from the child's home school or similar work is provided so that the child receives school credit.

In addition to the schoolroom, the hospital provides a unique program called School Re-entry that helps a child make the adjustment back to school after a significant burn injury. The hospital makes contact with the patient's school via phone, letters, videos or a visit by hospital staff before the child returns to class. The visit gives teachers and students the opportunity to ask questions and find ways to welcome their classmate back to school.

Transport Team

Comprehensive burn care begins in the emergency department. But when a child with burn injuries needs specialized help, our transport team delivers that care within hours. Since 1988, our team has flown more pediatric burn patients than any other medical transport team in the country. Every flight is staffed with a registered nurse and a respiratory therapist who have undergone extensive training in acute care. When the patient condition warrants, the team can be in the air within 2 1/2 hours. The team uses planes with specially designed stretchers, heart monitors and ventilators, transforming the aircraft into the equivalent of an ICU. While en route to the referring hospital, team members are available for telephone consultation with the referring physicians and with the medical staff at Shriners Hospitals.