Updated at: 10/28/2009 5:52 PM

Burn Treatment Centers

Just over two years ago, Clifford Kamm was in a plane crash that left him severely burned. "Fire ensued real quickly and when I was like climbing out I burned 16% of my body," said Kamm. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was treated by Dr. Michael Klein in the University of Washington Burn Center, verified as such by the American Burn Association.

Using data from the U.S. Census, Dr. Klein and his colleagues analyzed access to this specialized care by measuring the proportion of people who could reach one of the country's 51 verified burn centers via ambulance or helicopter in one or two hours. The study, featured this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that 46.3% of the U.S. population lived within two hours of such a facility via ground transport. That number rose to 79% via air transport. However, geographic access varied widely by state and region. "What we essentially found is that there is some disparity based on where you live in this country in terms of how readily available a verified burn center would be to you if you were to sustain a burn injury," said Dr. Klein.

Nearing the end of his treatment, Clifford reflects back on the care he's received for his injuries. "There's a lot of expertise that goes on and um, gosh, there's just uh no real quick way to say it, that, uh I'm very fortunate to have the guys I do."

To find American Burn Association Medical Centers near you, click on the link below.

American Burn Association