Mr Michael Andreas Serghiou¹

¹Bio Med Sciences, inc., Allentown, United States

Abstract:

Introduction: The physical challenges of caring for the injured face and neck require a high degree of skill that is often missing in burn training curriculums. New rehabilitation technologies have emerged and should be incorporated into scar management training programs. A comprehensive rehabilitation training program for the face and neck has been developed and tested for its efficacy.

Methods: A review of the burn rehabilitation training literature was performed. We found no specific training programs that address the face and neck of the burn survivor. The 2-day program includes a 4-hour didactic session and an 8-hour “hands on” experience. Pre/post training data was collected from 162 Occupational and Physical therapists at 11 facilities in the US to measure the success of the program.

Results: Therapists (97%) were extremely satisfied with the course indicating that they will apply the knowledge gained into their practice (95%). Most therapists (88%) never fabricated all the appliances demonstrated in the course. Perhaps our most important finding is that therapists did not previously consider a comprehensive approach to treating the face and neck (91%). Therapists (98%) indicated that the didactic portion of the course followed by the “hands on” experience was well fitting to immediately apply learned principles into practice.

Discussion: We have identified that focused burn rehabilitation training courses are rare and that therapists welcome new educational opportunities via meaningful “hands on” training courses, that can directly impact their practice. Training courses for burn therapists must be comprehensive, incorporate updated modalities and be evidence based.

Biography:

Michael is an Occupational Therapist practicing in the area of Burn Rehabilitation for 28 years. Michael has published numerous burn rehabilitation manuscripts and authored chapters in the

journals of Burn Care and Research and Burns and in various burn care related text books. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the American Burn Association (ABA) and is currently

serving on the Board of the International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI). As a clinician, Michael has received the ABA Barbara Knothe Outstanding Therapist Clinician Award, The ISBI Andre

Zagame Therapist Prize and the Physicians for Peace Medical Diplomat Award for his outstanding service in the international outreach area.