Psychosocial Aspects of Burn Management in a Changing Model of Care

As there has been a shift in burn care, from primarily inpatient to more outpatients, there has been a need to address the varying needs of patients in this new setting. The need for a multidisciplinary approach for optimal outcomes remains an important aspect of effective care for those with burn injury including addressing quality of life, psychological care, and social needs. This article will describe one burn center's transition and development of an outpatient program that addresses both the medical aspects of care but also the psychosocial aspects of coping with injury. The second purpose is to describe our outpatient approach and some of the accompanying challenges.