Onsite Education and Training

The International Outreach Program saves lives and improves outcomes for burn survivors by providing on-site education and training at teaching hospitals within developing countries.

In partnership with the American Burn Association, the Foundation coordinates the work of U.S. burn teams (comprised of a burn surgeon, nurse and physical therapist) at each selected hospital. Burn teams teach through lectures, demonstrations and side-by-side surgical work with local doctors and nurses.

Patient Care Improved

The first burn team traveled to the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore, India in April 2006. The U.S. team worked with local staff to reduce infection, contractures, scarring and graft loss, and to improve physical therapy and pediatric nutrition. The skills transferred helped to improve many areas of burn treatment, significantly improving patient care.

Medical professionals from more than 160 clinics and hospitals will learn advanced physical therapy treatments as well as how to develop prevention programs, create a burn registry and improve outpatient follow-up.

The next medical mission is scheduled for summer 2008 in Zambia, to be followed by an educational symposium scheduled for fall of 2008 in southern India. Medical professionals from clinics and hospitals will learn physical therapy techniques and surgical and clinical procedures to treat burns. The burn team will also tech how to develop prevention outreach, create a burn registry and improve outpatient follow-up.

Sites

In addition, to India and Zambia, International Outreach Program sites will soon include teaching hospitals in Malawi and Nicaragua, with more sites being planned. Sites are selected based on the availability of dedicated burn staff and infrastructure capability, as well as the necessary equipment and resources to provide basic burn care.