“By Sunday afternoon (October 21st, 2007), we knew we had a big, big problem,” says Bruce Potenza, M.D., director of the UCSD Regional Burn Center.
In the first few days of the fire storm, Potenza’s team, led by Janine Dubina, R.N., Nursing Manager, UCSD Regional Burn Center, treated what would normally have amounted to a month’s worth of
patients. “We recalled a lot of staff,” says Potenza. “Many people, whose own homes were threatened and whose families were evacuating, turned around and came back to work.” They worked 18- and 20- hour days, several days in a row, treating over 50 burn victims, 20 of whom were admitted to the hospital, in fair to critical condition. Most patients suffered second and third degree burns. Some patients spent days
in medically induced comas, a standard procedure that gives the severely burned patients a better chance of survival. Several patients needed respirators and were struggling with inhalation burns. Typically, the Burn Center staff dresses each patient’s wounds—a one- to two-hour process—twice a day. However,
some patients were so severely burned, the process took several hours. Medications help immensely. “We give them enough medication to ease pain and so that they won’t remember most of their stay in the Burn Center,” says Dubina. “The patient doesn’t need that added trauma.” The UCSD Regional Burn Center is world-class. Naturally, it offers the very latest in technological advances but, far and away, its single greatest resource is
its staff. These are the toughest, kindest medical professionals in the world. “
This unit is successful because we truly understand teamwork, ” says Potenza. “From those who keep patient rooms stocked, to the dieticians and pharmacists, to the caregivers, we are a team.” And the team has one priority: taking care of patients. “Some people may think they’re my boss. But when it comes down to it, the patient is my boss,” says Dubina. “This is a critical, vulnerable time, physically, mentally and emotionally. This team is the patient’s first line of defense.” Consuelo Pikop ’s son, Andrew, was one of the first burn victims to arrive at the Burn Center on that fateful Sunday afternoon. The 23-year-old fire fighter was admitted in fair condition and has continued to improve daily. “The doctors, nurses and staff have been incredibly supportive from the moment we arrived,” Prikop’s mother says. “Words are not enough to convey how grateful we are.” Andrew's high level of fitness and youth sped along the healing process. He was released in early November, and if he and the others patients listen to their coaches and adhere to a care regimen, life will become more and more “normal.”
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This is a long-term relationship, ” Potenza explains. “Yes, there is a lot of hard work ahead for these patients but, they’re not alone. They’re part of the team.” — Kim Edwards
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