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Pathway Two: Patient’s burn DOES NOT meet referral
criteria
If the patient does not require transfer the Burns Telehealth
service will assist you.
At this stage a photograph, after cleaning and debriding the
wound, prior to the dressing can be taken and submitted to
Burns Telehealth for later review. Without the need to wait to
be connected for immediate advice, analgesia and dressings
can proceed to minimise patient discomfort and stress.
The most cost-effective dressing for the first 48 hours is an
antimicrobial dressing.
The dressing should stay intact for the first 48 hours with
analgesia, elevation and mobilisation. Prophylactic antibiotics
are contraindicated due to the rapid development of resistant
organisms in the open wounds.
For information on dressing protocols, including the evidence base
for the use of antimicrobial dressing, please go to the Burns Service
on the RPH intranet. This information will be consolidated on
the new burns webpage, which will be launched on 1 July 2012.
Notification of the new site, with the URL, will be disseminated
once the site is finalised.
Submitting the photograph taken prior to dressing and basic
details of the burn to Burns Telehealth will allow a virtual
ward round to take place, which will provide support within 24
hours regarding the ongoing care of the patient.
The objective of the “Assess Referral Criteria” for referral and
the Burns Telehealth service is to reduce morbidity from burn
injury across WA. By supporting all care providers and patients
with burn care that focuses on facilitating rapid response and
healing the service aims to reduce the scar worn for life.
You will find a burns action postcard in this issue of Medicus.
Please use this postcard as a reminder in your workplace as to
the most effective response to burns presentations.
Initial Presentation
Assess against referral criteria
Transfer
Telehealth
Debride, clean, photo,
dress wound.
Admit to your facility or
send home
Email photos and
clinical information.
Receive specialist advice
within 24 hours
40 MEDICUS May