Burn and Wound Procedures in Lincoln
Burn and Wound Care
The CHI Health St. Elizabeth Regional Burn and Wound Center is internationally recognized for outstanding research and for providing the latest treatments and procedures for serious burns or for wounds that will not heal.
Burn Care By Nebraska's Only Verified Burn Center
The CHI Health St. Elizabeth Burn Center, the region’s first and only dedicated burn trauma unit, continues to save lives throughout the multi-state region. We maintain verification by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Burn Association (ABA). This status validates our excellence.
This special designation offers burn patients and the community:
- Specialized care, services, equipment and staff trained to treat the most critical burn injuries.
- Expert treatment of complicated skin disorders, such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome and complex wound care.
- Leadership in research, education and prevention.
- Resource for training, education and physical therapy care at our Regional Hospitals and Emergency Medicine Services.
- Our medical team helps each burn patient, adult or child, make a physical, emotional and psychological recovery. From initial assessment through the ongoing healing process, a highly-skilled and caring multidisciplinary team uses the most current and effective therapies. The center includes an outpatient burn clinic for less serious burns or follow-up care for severe burns.
Dr. David Voigt, Burn Center co-director, says, "We are proud to maintain this prestigious designation. The stringent criteria of the verification process ensures that verified burn centers provide the highest quality care to burn patients. We believe this is further enhanced by our ongoing participation in leading-edge research for treatments and procedures for burn.”
We currently have a 16-bed center with two dedicated operating rooms as well as procedure and treatment rooms for the ongoing care of burn and wounds.
Advanced Burn Laser Therapy
Our team is excited to be able to offer our patients an Advanced Burn Laser treatment. For burn survivors, this new laser treatment penetrates the layers of skin to a depth of 4mm – much deeper than a cosmetic laser. When the skin is burned, the surrounding skin begins to pull together, resulting in a contracture or tightening of the skin. Previously, the only option was multiple surgeries combining reconstructive and aesthetic work. The burn laser treatment helps relaxes the scar, improves range of motion, increases flexibility and lessens disfigurement—well beyond ordinary cosmetic benefits.
The goal of our Burn Center is to help survivors return to as close as pre-injury health as possible. Currently, St. Elizabeth is the only Burn Center in Nebraska offering this treatment. In the past, patients who could benefit from the treatment had to travel long distances. St. Elizabeth is excited to bring this treatment to Lincoln to improve burn patients’ quality of life.
Wound Care
When it comes to wound care, we have an impressive record of healing wounds that others thought incurable, including many that would have resulted in amputation. A team of doctors, specially-trained nurses, foot care specialists, and technologists are experienced in all areas of wound management. Even patients with long standing wounds may heal in a few months.
The St. Elizabeth Regional Burn and Wound Center is verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Burn Association (ABA).
Few life events compare with the immediate and long-term effects of a burn injury or an extensive wound. Patients initially suffer from pain and anxiety. With severe burns, some may even experience extreme metabolic changes. Those with permanent scars may have long-term emotional effects as well.
