The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center located within the San Antonio Military Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio'Fort Sam Houston, Texas, recently received re-verification by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

"In order to maintain the highest possible standards of healthcare, the center voluntarily requests review and assessment by professional organizations to evaluate its performance," said Burn Center director, Col. (Dr.) Evan Renz. "The Verification Committee representing these two national organizations commended the Institute for its commitment to excellence and its commitment to providing quality burn care to its patients."

The ABA is dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by burn injury. With more than 3,500 members worldwide, the ABA and its members dedicate their efforts and resources to promoting and supporting burn-related research, education, care, rehabilitation, and prevention.

The ACS is devoted to developing and implementing meaningful programs for trauma care in local, regional, national, and international arenas through education, professional development, standards of care, and assessment of outcomes.

As the sole burn center for the Department of Defense, the USAISR Burn Center is one of the Nation's largest, with approximately 800 annual admissions. It is also one of approximately 60 centers in the United States to receive verification by these prestigious organizations.

"Achievement of this distinction is a reflection of the enduring commitment to excellence," said Renz. "The multidisciplinary team at the Burn Center is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare for its beneficiaries."

Since 2003, the Burn Center has cared for more than 975 wounded warriors evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than 3,000 civilian emergency patients from the South Central Texas region. The Burn Center employs approximately 300 staff members (Army, civil service, and contractors) with multiple critical burn care skills. The USAISR is a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. The mission to "optimize combat casualty care" is accomplished by conducting science and clinical research in the fields of damage control resuscitation, hemostasis, engineering, and tissue regeneration affecting combat casualties, to include burns.

"General Caravalho [USAMRMC commander, Brig. Gen. (P) (Dr.) Joseph Caravalho Jr.] and I are extremely proud of the re-verification," said USAISR commander, Col. (Dr.) Michael A. Weber. "This achievement is a testament of our commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients and recognition of the enduring value returned on the investments by the Medical Research and Materiel Command and the U.S. Army Medical Command."