Physical therapy acute burn evaluation tool

A physical therapy acute burn evaluation tool was developed to provide a co ncise evaluation of the patient with burns in accordance with our hospital' s physical therapy department protocols. Previous burn evaluations were eit her written on a generic physical therapy form or written out in the subjec tive, objective, assessment, and plan format. They required 20 to 30 minute s for completion, depending on the extent of the burn and any subsequent ph ysical impairment. The new form is primarily laid out in a check-off design , with additional space for comments. Documentation time has decreased to 1 0 to 15 minutes, and that time does not appear to be affected by the burn e xperience of the therapist. This new evaluation tool has also proved useful for educating the student physical therapists that have rotated through ou r unit.