Editorials - The burn array in Israel

Circa 2700 burn victims require hospitalization in Israel each year. Most of these burns happen as household accidents, caused by hot liquids and involve less than 20% of the total body surface area. Treatment is dictated by the burn severity. Patients with severe burns are referred to one of the five dedicated burn services complying with the ABA & EBA criteria, located at the tertiary trauma centers which are situated in accordance with Israel's geographic, demographic and security needs. In most centers, the joint treatment of the most severe cases, provided by plastic surgeons and intensive care specialists allows the use of advanced techniques and treatment protocols, improving outcome. In order to further improve the quality of care for the burn patients, to allow improved national capability to contend with scenarios of disaster and mass casualty, to provide a sound database for future planning and billing, and also to produce appropriate intervention plans, Israel should have a system similar to the US's National Burn Repository.