About Our Center

The Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the only adult burn treatment center in the Washington metropolitan area. This 20-bed facility features a multidisciplinary team approach to burn care that provides comprehensive care for burn victims.

Surgical Burn Treatment

All surgical burn treatment, if necessary, is performed in a special area within the Burn Intensive Care Unit. Reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation are available for patients in the post-acute and convalescent phases, regardless of where they received treatment for their acute burns.  

Intermediate Care Unit

A 15-bed Burn Rehabilitation/Intermediate Care Unit provides nursing care and rehabilitation therapy for noncritical burn-injured patients and critically injured patients who have progressed to the post-acute phase of care.

Minor Burns

Patients with truly minor burns, not requiring hospitalization, are provided with outpatient wound care and rehabilitation through the Burn Center clinic.

Qualifications

According to the American Burn Association, a qualified burn center must have the following criteria:

• A medical and an administrative commitment to the care of patients with burns
• Written guidelines for the triage, treatment, and transfer of burned patients from other facilities
• Maintain current accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Further qualifications include:

• Burn surgeons are trained in General Surgery with a burn, trauma, or critical care fellowship
• Burn nurses receive practical training
• Burn therapists are graduates from a physical therapy or occupational therapy program and are trained by an experienced burn therapist
• Dieticians and social workers are trained with their degree, and are also trained by a member of the burn center team