Global health: burn outreach program

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Surgical Outreach
• Burn Care Management

Background:

• Burn care in resource-constrained settings presents significant challenges.
• International collaboration is crucial for advancing medical expertise and treatment in underserved regions.
• Previous interactions highlighted critical gaps in burn care within Ukraine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the components of a sustainable international burn care outreach program.
• To establish a collaborative framework between American and Ukrainian medical professionals.
• To address identified deficiencies in burn treatment and management in Ukraine.

Main Methods:

• Initiated contact with a burn unit in Lviv, Ukraine.
• Implemented a 3-year co-management strategy for burn patients involving American and Ukrainian physicians.
• Utilized telemedicine for remote patient evaluation and conducted annual surgical outreach trips.
• Screened and selected patients for co-management and surgical procedures.

Main Results:

• The program facilitated increasing patient evaluations and surgical interventions annually from 2011 to 2013.
• 2011: 22 patients evaluated, 5 surgeries performed.
• 2012: 38 patients evaluated, 12 surgeries performed.
• 2013: 63 patients evaluated, 22 surgeries performed.
• Launched clinical research projects on burn prevention and perioperative care.

Conclusions:

• The established multi-layered approach effectively enhances burn care in a resource-limited environment.
• The program's elements provide a adaptable template for future international burn outreach initiatives.
• Sustained collaboration and tailored interventions are key to improving global burn treatment outcomes.