Patients with burns are successful in work hardening programs.

The W.O.R.K. Center at Tampa General Hospital is a facility accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for work hardening and specializes in assisting injured workers in returning to work. The most successful diagnostic group has been the burn injury population referred from the Tampa Bay Regional Burn Center. Eleven patients with burn injuries with an average total body surface area of 20.7% were referred to the W.O.R.K. Center for evaluation and admission to The Work Hardening Program. Ninety-one percent returned to work after discharge from the program compared with a 60% return-to-work rate for the total work hardening population at this facility. The success of the program may be attributed to an early referral process and the emphasis on rehabilitation in treating the patient with burn injuries. Work hardening provides a structured, goal-oriented approach in preparing the patient with burn injuries to reenter the work force.