At the UCI Health Regional Burn Center, we treat all types of burns, regardless of the cause, from contact with a heat source to electrical and chemical burns.
Conditions
Burn wounds come from a wide range of sources. These are some of the types of wounds we treat:
- Thermal burns
- Chemical burns
- Electrical burns and related injuries
- Friction burns and road rash
- Scald burns
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- Severe dermatological conditions
- Complex wounds
- Burn contracture
- Scar management
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Other skin conditions
Our team also treats the following conditions and diseases of the skin:
- Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) — SJS is a serious systemic allergic reaction with a characteristic severe rash involving the skin and mucous membranes that requires treatment similar to burns.
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS) — TENS is a life-threatening skin disorder that is commonly drug-induced. A variant of the same disease process as SJS.
- Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) — BP is a chronic, autoimmune, subepidermal blistering skin disease of unknown cause that can be fatal in the most severe cases.
- Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) — PV is a potentially life threatening autoimmune, intraepithelial blistering disease of unknown cause affecting the skin and mucous membranes.
Treatments
Scars are a natural part of the healing process for most skin wounds and burns are no exception. We offer options for pain management, surgical revision, drug therapy, pressure garments and topical interventions.
Our highly trained plastic surgeons are available to repair and reconstruct the most complicated wounds and delicate soft tissues.
- Pain management
- Skin grafting
- Burn reconstruction
- Scar management
- Release of scar contracture (skin tightening from burns)
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- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Psychosocial support for the patient and the family
- Burn support group
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The UCI Health Regional Burn Center is the only burn treatment program in Orange County verified by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association, and certified by the California Children’s Services program.
We use the latest in skin substitute technology to avoid skin grafting, and we partner with UCI Health Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic for innovative non-surgical techniques to diagnose the depth of burn wounds and to treat burn scars.
What we do
- Our dedicated staff, led by Dr. Victor Joe, treats patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly.
- We address not only the medical but the emotional needs of patients and families recovering from a burn injury.
- We take care of the patient from the initial injury through hospitalization (including an inpatient rehabilitation unit, if necessary) to outpatient follow up.
- Our burn psychologist offers advanced treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression following a burn injury.
- We offer counseling and other support for children returning to school with visible scarring, and conduct special school assemblies to demystify the burn injury and help minimize staring and teasing.
- Members of our burn team are Behavior Enhancement Skills Training (BEST) certified, which allows them to teach image enhancement techniques to burn survivors and their families
Our facilities
The burn intensive care unit (ICU) in UC Irvine Douglas Hospital features eight suites designed to allow patients to receive specialized care. These spacious rooms are equipped with daybeds so family members and friends may visit with their loved ones and participate in the recovery process.
Burn patients also receive treatment in an expansive hydrotherapy room that is equipped with two state-of-the-art tubs. Hydrotherapy treatment involves the use of warm, running water to help the healing process of a burn injury by reducing infection and relieving pain.
The tubs have doors for easy entry, whirlpools and automated elevation, allowing caregivers to move the tub up and down as needed to better access the patient’s wounds and dressings. A third hydrotherapy tub located on the first floor is dedicated to physical therapy.
Support services
- Monthly burn survivor support groups help patients and family members deal with the healing process.
- We offer funding for pediatric burn survivors to attend specialized camps that provide emotional and social skills necessary for thriving after a burn injury.
- We hold Advanced Burn Life Support courses annually to update emergency medical personnel and other local health care professionals on the latest in burn care and treatment.
- Twice a year, we join our burn survivors in a festive holiday party and a fun-filled summer picnic, helping build a sense of community and support outside the Burn Center.
- We offer scholarships for burn survivors to attend the annual World Burn Congress, where burn survivors from around the country gather for emotional healing.
- Our Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery (SOAR) program links the newly injured with peer supporters who have overcome similar injuries.
- Our burn survivor programs are not limited to patients treated initially at the burn center. We welcome all burn survivors in our community.
Educational outreach
Our burn center serves as the primary educational resource for burn care in Orange County. Our mission includes providing burn-care training to other professionals, such as fire service personnel, paramedics, and fellow Orange County physicians and nurses.
Our faculty physicians and nursing staff also provide specialized education in burn care, including Advanced Burn Life Support classes.
Burn center physicians include board-certified trauma surgeons, dermatologists, plastic surgeons and experts in pain management.
The primary members of our burn center team are:
