Cooper, an eight-year-old from Goose Creek, South Carolina was burned severely when he tried to catch a pot falling from the stove. His legs, arms, and stomach suffered third-degree burns. He was quickly rushed to MUSC’s burn clinic, which is currently the only center in the state with a burn clinic for children.
Cooper received treatment and was able to leave by the next morning. However, burns are a very serious matter that need to be checked daily. This would mean that Cooper and his mom would have to come down to MUSC every day. This would particulary be difficult for Cooper, since any movement for him would be painful. That’s when his nurse, Ryan Howard, stepped in and introduced Cooper and his mom to the Teleburn App.
The Teleburn App was developed through the efforts of Sachin Patel and Dr. Aaron Lesher of MUSC and was funded by BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation. It allows for the burn patients to have constant access to their doctor or nurse. Patients can use the app for daily consultations with their doctor or nurse on dressing the wound and measuring progress by sending text, pictures, or by video chats. Also included in the app are FAQs and How To Videos since typically parents have never treated serious burns.
Cooper’s mom, Sarah said that the burn app made her “feel less alone” as she took care of Cooper. It gave her assurance in that, “even in the middle of the night, I could get an answer right away.” Cooper is now doing quite well. His burns have healed, and he gets to enjoy the things he did before his injury, like playing his video games and spending time outdoors with his friends.
About the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation Headquartered in Columbia, the foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Its mission is to promote and support healthier South Carolinians, particularly the economically vulnerable, by supporting solutions to address gaps in health care and serving as an agent of change to support innovation and value-added public-private partnerships. BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.