Burn Services and Plastic Surgery
In 2003, Wishard Health Services opened its newly constructed state-of-the-art Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Wishard. The facility, replacing the original burn unit at Wishard, includes 11 intensive care patient rooms, two apartments to accommodate the families of patients, a hydrotherapy area, expanded rehabilitation areas, an operating suite dedicated to the burn unit and an expanded waiting room with virtual visitation and monitoring. Each year, more than 350 burn patients are treated as inpatients, and approximately 1,500 are seen as outpatients. Since 1993, the burn center has seen an increase of approximately 15 percent per year in the number of patients treated. More than 4,500 outpatient burn appointments have been made through an expanded outpatient burn program. A cosmetic surgery program is now being offered to burn survivors who may request advanced cosmetic services for skin care after wound closure.
OR Renovation
Wishard Health Services recently renovated its Operating Rooms. The renovation project included expanding the perioperative holding area as well as updating the seven existing operating rooms and inventory supply room. Enlarging the inventory room will help the department with better inventory control resulting in significant cost reduction. These changes will also positively affect the Central Services area. Contractors upgraded the infrastructure for the ORs and installed new OR lights, and a new air handling unit has been added on the roof to keep the ORs cooler in the summer months. The changes make the surgery experience better for Wishard staff and patients.
IU ARC
The IU Acute Rehabilitation Center at Wishard provides more choices to patients in the central Indiana community who are in need of rehabilitation services. Known as ARC, the center is located in Lockefield Village Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and opened its doors in 2001. The center provides intensive inpatient rehabilitation services to help people who have had a debilitating illness or injury achieve their highest level of functional independence. The goal is to teach patients and their families how to regain independence and facilitate a safe return home. The rehabilitation team promotes patients’ return to the community by giving them renewed confidence and the skills to achieve their highest potential. The environment is safe, controlled, stimulating and very conducive to regaining optimal health.
Alcohol Intervention
The faculty of the IU/Wishard Level I Trauma Center have partnered with physicians of Wishard Health Services’ Midtown Community Mental Health Center to develop a protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of brief interventions in changing drinking patterns in high-risk drinkers following admission to the trauma service. The faculty is seeking funding for this study from the Centers for Disease Control as part of its initiative to decrease preventable injury in the United States.
Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care
The Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care Unit is a vital component of the long-term care that is provided to Trauma Service patients. Specialized nurses with a 2:1 patient-to-nurse ratio staff this facility. It is the established level of communication that occurs between physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers that is key to our patients’ success.