Burn Center Referral Criteria

The American Burn Association has identified the following injuries as those requiring referral to a burn center.

• Partial thickness burns greater than 10% total body surface area (TBSA)
• Burns that involve the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, or major joints
• Third-degree burns in any age group
• Electrical burns, including lightning injury
• Chemical burns
• Inhalation injury
• Burn injury in patients with pre-existing medical problems/disorders that could complicate management
• Any patients with burns and concomitant trauma in which the burn poses the greatest risk
• Burned children in hospitals without qualified personnel or equipment for the care of children
• Burn injury in patients who will require special social, emotional, or long-term rehabilitation

Patients with these burns should be treated in a specialized burn facility after initial assessment and stabilization at an emergency department.

Transferring a Patient to WFBMC Burn Center

Physician to physician contact is essential to insure patient needs are met. To arrange transfer, call the Physician's Access Line at 1-800-277-7654.