Burn Center

In October 2010, West Penn Burn Center for the fifth time received verification honors by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Burn Association (ABA). Verification is a true mark of  distinction for a burn center and an indication that the center provides high-quality care to burn patients from time of injury through rehabilitation.

Established in 1969, West Penn Burn Center at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is the first burn  program in the region to receive ACS-ABA verification honors, the only program with verification honors for the care of both adult and pediatric burn patients, and the only burn center in Pennsylvania to have earned verification five times.

West Penn Burn Center, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, has always been known for innovation, leadership, excellence and compassion in burn care.  The Center treats hundreds of patients a year from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland.

The Burn Center is fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical systems, special equipment for treating burns, 14 private rooms including six critical care rooms, a family waiting room and children’s playroom.  Every admitted patient has a Burn Center team dedicated to meeting individualized needs, including  specialized medical and nursing care, emotional and psychological counseling, nutrition planning and physical therapy.

Verification of burn centers is a joint program of the American Burn Association (ABA) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). It is a rigorous review program designed to verify a burn center's resources for providing optimal care to burn patients from the time of injury through rehabilitation.

The voluntary program includes an application, pre-review questionnaire, and an in-depth on-site review by members of the ABA Verification Committee, as well as senior members of the ABA. A written report of the site visit team is reviewed by the ABA Verification Committee and by the Committee on Trauma of the ACS.

Burn Center verification is an indicator to government, third-party payers, patients and their families, and accreditation organizations that the center provides high quality patient care and meets the demanding standards for organizational structure, personnel qualifications, facilities resources and medical care services set by the ABA and ACS.