Since its opening in 1974, the University of Washington Burn Center at Harborview has treated more than 9,000 patients, including nearly all burn victims in Washington. Harborview was one of the first hospitals to adopt the approach of early removal of burned tissue, and was the first site of a major clinical trial for a temporary artificial skin graft, a technology that continues to advance. Especially important is the reduced length of hospital stay for most patients, enabling them to return to their former lives as soon as possible. Most patients are back at work within a few months and children rarely, if ever, miss a year of school. The program's effectiveness is largely due to its team approach.
General surgeons work closely with plastic surgeons to ensure both quality and quantity of life.
Besides core medical staff, the multidisciplinary group also includes physical and occupational therapists, social workers, specialized nursing staff, psychologists, vocational rehabilitation therapists, a dietician, a pharmacist and special teams in the operating theater. The Harborviews Burn Unit also treats patients with severe skin diseases, such as necrotizing fascitis. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, a drastic skin loss possibly due to a bad reaction to drugs, previously had an 80 percent mortality rate, but treatment with burn care principles has reduced that rate to 15 percent. To further educate the public about burn prevention and treatment, and to prepare school-aged children to welcome back a classmate who has been burned, the burn unit's outreach program regularly visits schools, companies and fire departments. Refer to Who To Contact for comments.