Some burn centers still refrain from using pain medications out of a concern that their patients might become addicted. But researchers at the UW Burn Center have found that patients rarely have trouble weaning themselves from pain medication. Only one in 3,000 patients becomes addicted after hospitalization. Under-medication is a greater risk, as some patients seek drugs on their own to alleviate their pain. Current pain research includes focusing on children, who comprise a third of the UW Burn Center's patients.
Children now receive drugs on a regular schedule, rather than waiting until they say they hurt.
Young patients don't mind receiving fentanyl, a fast-acting synthetic morphine, that can now be delivered orally rather than intravenously. One thing we do especially well is to combine approaches, using many kinds of specialists. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists all pull together and work as a team. A huge amount of research goes on here, and we're clearly ahead of the pack. Larry Zalin is media relations coordinator for Harborview Medical Center.