There's a new resource for burn victims in North Texas.
For decades, Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas was the only option for treatment of burn patients. Now, there are two.
Since opening in August, more than 400 people have been treated at the burn center at the Medical Center of Plano.
"That tells you that there's enough demand and need in terms of the market," said hospital CEO Charles Gressle.
The center's emergency rooms are tailored specifically to a burn victim's needs. They feature temperature-controlled showers, drainage beneath the beds and all the dressings doctors need.
"Usually these patients will be a little bit sicker, and then they dress them up and they can go into an ICU room as soon as possible," said Dr. Salil Gulati, medical director of the burn center.
The hospital opened an eight-bed burn unit intensive care unit this month.
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Each room has a nurse's station outside the door.
The rooms have individual temperature and humidity controls. They also have radiant panels above the beds to keep burn patients in as little pain as possible.
The total cost of the burn center is $10 million, and the final phase is expected to open later this year.
