Some patients when burned will need to be admitted to the hospital while others don’t. When a patient with burns is admitted to the hospital, he/she will be assessed in the burn unit by a team called the burn team. According to the assessment, treatment will be provided to the patient. With time, most patients will improve and at some point a discharge plan will be set for the patient. The patient will be examined by the treating physicians and other members of the burn team before the patient is discharged. In almost all cases, the burn team makes the right decision.
In some cases:
- If the burn team decided to discharge you from the hospital but you think that you are no ready to be discharged, (either you are not feeling well or for some reason you think that you shouldn’t be discharged) and you disagree with the decision to discharge you have to tell the team that there is something wrong with you, and you are not feeling well enough to be discharged. If the team still thinks that you should be discharged you can contact the patient’s services representative or anyone who you think can help. Tell them that you disagree with the burn team’s decision to discharge.
- When the burned patient is a pediatric patient, this makes the situation harder as these patients can’t speak, communicate, or express their feelings. Parents usually know their children better than anyone else. If your child has been ordered to be discharged but you feel that he/she is not doing well eg, he/she is not playful, not eating well, doesn’t hold eye contact, the wounds don’t look well or any other reason that leads you to think that your child is not ready to be discharged, you have to tell the doctor in charge or any of the burn team staff that you think your child is not ready to be discharged. If you don’t get a satisfactory response you have to seek other channels. Contact the patient’s service department and communicate your concerns. Write down the names of the people you speak with and what they say in response to your concerns. You should not be intimidated… Make your feelings known firmly and respectfully.
This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.