BurNet
Achievements
Specifically, the BurNet Project, which involved nearly all the nations in the Mediterranean area, aimed to bring these countries up to common and shared quality standards in procedures related to the health sector of burns prevention and care.
The realization of the BurNet Project has undoubtedly enabled the Mediterranean Burns Council (MBC) to have at its disposal an essential instrument which, used by all specialists in Member burns centres, will make it possible to develop the principles and objectives pursued for 25 years in a manner that is more modern, more appropriate, and more in keeping up with a scientific world and a civilized society that are increasingly involved in the various processes of globalization.
Achievements
The Project reached its pre-established general objectives, providing appreciable technological and operative improvements for health facilities engaged in burns prevention and care.
The scientific effort, supported by the already existing MBC, was considerable. The spirit of collaboration among the Partners was clearly shown during the scheduled Work Meetings, in the commitment to presenting the various Project topics at national and international Congresses, and in their publication and dissemination in journals, reviews and other information systems in the various countries.
The following operative systems were realized: Web Portal; Data Collection Tool; Definition and implementation of existing technological structures; Online exchanges of scientific knowledge and Teleconsultation; Dissemination of results.
The construction of a Web Portal (www.burnet.org) put at the Scientific Partners’ disposal a cheap and direct instrument for communication between them, for the exchange of know-how, for the performance of telediagnosis via the web, and for teleconsultations. The Portal was produced in the three scheduled languages: English, French, and Arabic.
The creation of the Portal made it possible to put the following Tools on line:
Data Collection Tool, which is gradually being completed, with the creation of the largest data bank ever to be seen in the field of burn patient treatment.
Forum: an electronic notice board where users can write messages related to topics already proposed by the Forum Administrator (e.g. members of the Scientific Committee).
Chat: an instrument that permits written communication in
real time between two or more users who at that particular moment are connected to the Portal.
News and Events: a showcase where dates and information regarding BurNet Project topics are displayed.
Document Reposítory: a useful instrument for the collection of scientific publications and documentation concening BurNet subjects. It can be consulted by all registered users and constitutes an important bibliographical instrument that has its own index and is easily accessed.
Virtual Desktop: a virtual environment reproducing on a local PC desktop a set of instruments and services which users can use as if they were resident on their own PCs, but which in fact are resident in a remote site. Virtual Desktop’s main instruments are:
The purpose of the online courses, or web tutorials, is to promote the growth of the knowledge and capacities of operatives in the sector.
Thanks to these instruments it has been possible to organize public awareness campaigns on problems related to burn accidents and fire disasters.
Conclusions
The end of the BurNet Project coincides with the start of the activities to attain these objectives.
The four Work Meetings witnessed the gradual development of a new “Therapeutic Pool” mentality.
By means of the Portal, the partner Burn Centres will be able to transfer medical knowledge to the public in order to fill up cultural gaps in the field of prevention and immediate treatment, starting with early education at school.
This endeavour, though well begun, is still only in its early stages but shows all the premises of good development, furthered by the MBC organization and its Members’ cooperative spirit.
One result that already been achieved is unquestionably the commencement of a debate on the need to create uniform therapeutic protocols in the Mediterranean area, raising their level to the highest international standards.
BurNet, now a reality, can also be the basis for an even wider objective since it can represent the premise for a future new European Project, developed with the creation of a Mediterranean Burns Academy and for the institution of Master’s courses for the training of personnel dedicated to the dramatic and complex pathology of burns.