Expert, compassionate burn care from injury to recovery

As the region’s only Level I-certified Trauma Center and one of only six specialized burn units in the state, Hurley Medical Center provides expert burn care from injury to recovery. Each year, we treat more than 100 adults and children with serious burn injuries from across northeastern Michigan, with a significant number of our patients transferred to Hurley’s Burn Unit from other hospitals and medical centers as a result of our trauma experience, capabilities and facilities. We have also developed a unique Pediatric Burn Program that enables us to provide expert, child-focused care for this most vulnerable population. For all of our patients, we offer dedicated, compassionate, high-quality care.

Our Facility

Burn patients and other severely injured patients arrive at Hurley’s Trauma Center, where they are evaluated and given immediate, top-quality treatment for their injuries by our experienced team of trauma surgeons, physicians and medical staff. After the patient is stabilized, he or she is then transferred to our dedicated Burn Unit.

Hurley’s Burn Unit has a number of dedicated beds for burn patients, including four beds for intensive care and several stepdown beds. The facility is equipped with whirlpool tubs and showers for hydrotherapy. Physical and occupational therapy are provided on the unit, minimizing the need for patients to travel to other areas of the hospital.

A team-based, long-term approach

Serious burn injuries are not short-term events. Patients require immediate, effective emergency care in the first hours after injury, and long-term physical therapy, counseling and support in order to ensure proper healing and a return to normal life activities. After the initial injury, it may take months before recovery is complete. Burns are also time-intensive injuries, requiring around-the-clock attention during the initial, post-injury period and consistent care after stabilization and discharge.

The Hurley Commitment

At Hurley Medical Center, we are committed to working with patients at every step in the process and to providing unparalleled continuity of care, from admission and intensive care (if necessary) to critical care, stepdown care, discharge and post-discharge treatment. Our approach is team-based and holistic, and follows a patient- and family-centered care model. We provide state-of-the-art, evidence-based burn care with an emphasis on long-term recovery.

Pain Management and Palliative Care

Burns are typically associated with severe pain. Effective pain management and palliative care is a priority, as reduced physical and emotional stress promotes more rapid healing. Treatment options include pain medication and sedation, as dictated by each patient’s unique needs and injuries.

Post-discharge care

Hurley offers excellent post-discharge care. We work with patients and their families to develop a complete burn treatment plan, and collaborate with other medical professionals who can provide nutritional, physical, occupational and mental-health counseling in order to promote recovery. Some patients may not have adequate financial resources or housing options; we work with medical social workers to help patients identify community resources that can provide needed assistance.

The Burn Team

Members of the Burn Team include board-certified physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, case managers, infection control specialists, respiratory therapists and pharmacists. Over the course of the patient’s treatment and follow-up, other health care professionals are added based on individual needs. By combining medical expertise with compassionate care, we have built a strong record of positive outcomes and long-term functional results.