Verification Step by Step

To begin the process to become a verified burn center, or to start your re-verification process, complete the application. The application should be completed by your burn center’s verification coordinator, the ABA’s main point of contact for logistics during your verification review.

Email verification@ameriburn.org if your verification coordinator does not have access to the application.  For instructions on completing the application and adding system users, click here.

Once your application is approved by the ABA Central Office, you will be able to log into the verification module on the Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP) to begin the PRQ. New users will receive an email with log-in instructions. Please allow 1-2 weeks for new users to be added.

Burn centers participating in the verification program will be invoiced $5,000 annually. Checks should be made payable to the: American Burn Association, 311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 950, Chicago, IL 60606

The application includes the date parameters for your site visit. After selecting site visitors and confirming their availability, the ABA will send an email confirming the date of the visit.

The PRQ is completed within the ABA’s online verification module on the Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP).

The verification coordinator and users will receive an email with log-in instructions for the PRQ. Please allow 1 week following submission for ABA to activate the list of PRQ users.  If you do not receive an email with instructions, please contact verification@ameriburn.org.

Site visit details including survey or names and contact information will be sent to your burn center via email with your site review confirmation letter. In order to prepare for your site visit, please read Site Visit Instructions and the sample Review Agenda.

Review the sample agenda for information on what you will need to know for a successful visit.

Details about the visit can be found in the Review Agenda and Verification Review Program Guidelines. Please note: the burn center is responsible for reserving and paying for reviewers’ hotel as well as on-site transportation. A joint site visit may result in up to two days hotel stay.

The burn center should schedule an informal dinner the night before the visit attended by all attendings caring for patients in the burn center, the Nurse Manager(s) and the administrator most directly responsible for the burn center. Here, the reviewers will be able to go over questions they have with burn center personnel in an informal environment. Upon reviewers’ discretion, chart reviews may occur on Day #1 to allow for more time on Day #2.

The formal visit and review take place the next morning. This will include an introductory meeting, a tour of the burn center, rounds and chart review, followed by an exit interview, usually ending no later than 1:00 pm. Please note: Pending reviewers’ travel arrangements, it may be requested that chart reviews begin on the day before the formal review, prior to the pre-review dinner. Please make arrangements to accommodate this request should it be made.

Site reviewers prepare the site visit report online including their comments and recommendation, then submit the online report to the ABA Central Office. The ABA Central office reviews it, then it is open to the full Verification Review Committee for comments and consideration.

Upon committee approval of the site report, the burn is notified of the decision of the Verification Committee by letter emailed to your burn center director. The committee’s determination is based on ABA Verification Criteria.

One Level 1 criterion deficiency (CD) will result in non-verification, anything higher than five or more Level 2 CD’s will also result in non-verification.

Focus Review: In the case that there are issues with the verification which can be resolved by submitting additional documentation, either a remote or on-site focused review will need to be scheduled. Consult your determination letter for details regarding the timeline and documentation required. There is an additional cost for a focus review whether on paper or on-site.

Once a center is verified, a plaque is sent to the burn center. The ABA website and map is updated to reflect the verified burn center.

If your burn center is interested in using the ABA Verified Burn Center logo, please contact us.