Emergency Department Phase of Care

A patient's initial contact with the Burns Service usually begins in the Emergency Department. A hospital Emergency Department can be a confusing place for both the patient and family. Several physicians and nurses work together to rapidly diagnose and treat injuries. When a patient first arrives in the Emergency Department, he/she will be placed in a hospital gown. The patient may require blood tests, x-rays, CAT scans, ultrasounds, or other special tests. While in the Emergency Department, surgeons from the burn service may be consulted, as necessary.

A patient's stay in the Emergency Department may be long (several hours) because the initial evaluation can be extensive and treatment usually begins here. The staff in the Emergency Department will provide updates to the family on the patient's progress. Please be aware that it may not be possible for the patient to have visitors during the evaluation in the Emergency Department.

Following an evaluation in the Emergency Department, burn patients are either discharged home or admitted to the hospital. Sometimes patients need to go directly to the operating room to have an injury repaired. After surgery, patients may be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). If a patient does not need an immediate operation, he/she may be admitted directly to the Burn inpatient floor on Bigelow 13 instead of an ICU.

The contact information for the Burn Floor is: Bigelow Building, 13th Floor (617-726-3354)