Citation

Hardwicke J. Burns 2016; 42(2): 307-315.

Affiliation

Healing Foundation Centre for Burns Research, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2WB, UK; School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: j.hardwicke@bham.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.burns.2015.07.002

PMID

26775219

Abstract

The provision and practice of burn care changed dramatically during the latter half of the 20th century. Historically, indicators of outcomes that were employed were survival and length of hospital stay, but these have now been expanded with increased data capture. In line with service development, the practice of burn care must continue to evolve in order to meet prescribed standards of care. As burn survivability has significantly increased, overall "crude" mortality is no longer the best indicator of performance. The multiple domains covered by the term "patient outcome" aim to optimize the acute and long-term management of burn patients and have shifted the focus onto lifelong outcomes, rather than short-term gains. This review will investigate the current outcome measures employed in burn care in the UK, how this leads to commissioning and regulation of a burn service, and influences the future direction of travel.

Language: en