According to the American Burn Association, more than 2 million thermal injuries occur each year. Of this number, about 75,000 require hospitalization, and 14,000 of these injuries result in death. As the largest organ in our body, disruption of the skin layer can result in severe physical and physiologic consequences.

The Surgical PA working in Burn Surgery usually practices in similar practice areas as the supervising burn surgeon. This can include the acute resuscitation period (including involvement on the trauma or burn team), intra-operative management (first assisting), postresuscitation, intensive care, and long term follow up.

PA’s are also involved in assessing and monitoring burn injury. PA’s, as prescribers (and depending on the supervising surgeon and individual institution) is trained to prescribe topical agents such as Mafenide, silver sulfadiazine, and others, in either a closed method or exposure therapy. In the intra-operative environment, the Burn PA will work with grafts, Xenografts, Biobrane, homografts, etc. In the critical care setting, the Burn PA focuses on restoration and maintainance of normal physiologic function, as well as control of infection.

The William Randolph Hurst Burn Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital is well known as one of the busiest burn centers in the world (www.nyp.org). In that institution, PA’s are employed in the peri-operative environment (Surgical first assisting) as well managing care on the step-down unit.

Isn't it time you added a Surgical PA to your Burn team?

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