Projects to improve the care

Below is an overview of the main projects aimed at improving patient care.

Patient information file
All patients who are admitted to the Burn Centres receive their own patient information file since 2007. This file consists of an informative binder with all sorts of information regarding treatment of burns and the stay at the centre. Different files are available: for children, for parents and for adult patients. The file was developed in close cooperation with the foundation Child and Burn and the three Burn Centres.

Brochures
In 2007, a special brochure was developed for physicians. It contains extensive information regarding the treatment and especially the aftercare for persons who have stayed at a Burn Centre. This brochure is part of a series. There also brochures for parents and teachers.

Stimulation of expertise
A minimum of 4 courses ‘Emergency Management of Severe Burns ' (EMSB) takes place per year. This course is intended for doctors and nurses working in the emergency rooms of hospitals. Every year, on average, 100 professionals are trained.

In 2008, 16 nurses graduated within the framework of the ‘Opleiding Brandwonden Verpleegkundige' (OBV). A new program will start in October.

The Burns Foundation closely cooperates with the Dutch Association for Burn Care (NVBZ). The Foundation provides financial support to the NVBZ enabling it to organize a symposium twice per year and maintain its own web site. The symposiums of the NVBZ are the platform for exchange of best practices and scientific research information

Publications
The Dutch Burns Foundation also regularly publishes books aimed at improving (para)medical practice. Recent examples are in the Handboek Fysiotherapie en Ergotherapie bij Brandwonden (manual physical therapy and occupational therapy for burn care) and the book 'Brandwondenzorg - een multidiciplinaire benadering' (burn care - a multidisciplinary approach) and/which is the training manual for specialized burn care nurses.

Protocols
The Burns Foundation is a strong advocate of protocollised treatment. That is why, in conjunction with the three centres, new protocols are developed every year. Recently, for example, a wound care protocol for burns was drawn up together with the Burns committee of the Wound Care Society. The protocol has meanwhile been made available on the Internet. Currently, work is ongoing for a nursing protocol and a protocol for general practitioners.

Burns Information Line
Every year, the Burns Information Line is called several hundred times. Most questions are of medical nature, predominantly in the area of wound healing or treatment of scars. Persons also contact the Burns Information Line in relation to psychosocial problems and for information regarding for example contact with other burn victims.

Fellowship
Annually, the Burns Foundation provides funding for a so-called fellowship. Promising researchers receive the possibility to carry out a research traineeship at various international institutes.

BhURN project
In 2006, the so-called BhURN project was started (BhURN stands for ‘Brandwondenonderzoek heeft Uw Reactie Nodig': Burns research requires a response from you). Objective of this project was to steer the future activities of the foundation on the area of burn care and aftercare. Within the framework of this project, groups of professionals and persons with burns were asked to explore their priorities regarding social specific themes.
Persons with burns were consulted, by means of focus groups (so-called think-along meetings), feedback meetings and a written questionnaire, to share their experiences with burns care and aftercare. One example of an outcome of these meetings was the need for ‘buddies': trained fellow burn victims who are available for persons with burns, in addition to the professional aftercare nurses. A related feasibility study was looked into in 2007.
A Delphi round (in writing) was organized to take inventory of relevant topics in the area of clinical and psychosocial care, in conjunction with the appropriate professionals.

Also, a working group on burn rehabilitation was established within the framework of the BhURN project in, which produced a statement on the state of affairs and areas of attention within the (inter)national burn rehabilitation, more specifically in the area of physical and occupational therapy. The report of the meeting of this working group, on the one hand, yielded important topics for a follow-up to the BhURN project and on the other hand, the starting point for a working group toward the establishment of a ´ burn rehabilitation network´.