Burn Center

Burn treatment is a constantly evolving field that has seen dramatic improvements in recent decades.

In 1945, there was only a 25 percent average chance of survival from severe burns. In the early 70s, it was discovered that by ridding the body of burned, dead tissue as early as possible, the risk of infection would be limited, boosting patients' chances of survival. Today, even patients with the most devastating burns - those covering more than 70 percent of their skin surface - have a 50 percent chance of survival. The overall survival rate at Harborview's burn unit stands at 96 percent.

Since its opening in 1974, the UW Medicine Burn Center at Harborview has treated more than 15,000 patients, including nearly all burn victims in Washington. Harborview was one of the first hospitals to adopt the approach of early removal of burned tissue, and was the first site of a major clinical trial for a temporary artificial skin graft, a technology that continues to advance. Especially important is the reduced length of hospital stay for most patients, enabling them to return to their former lives as soon as possible. Most patients are back at work within a few months and children rarely, if ever, miss a year of school.

The program's effectiveness is largely due to its team approach. General surgeons work closely with plastic surgeons to ensure both quality and quantity of life. Besides core medical staff, the multidisciplinary group also includes the following: