As one of the region’s only Verified Burn Centers within a Level 1 trauma hospital, the Temple Burn Center is a lifeline for patients at every phase of care, from emergency treatment and reconstructive surgery to long-term rehabilitation and recovery. Its chapter of the Phoenix Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery (SOAR) program connects current and former patients with survivors, loved ones, and burn professionals committed to empowering the burn community.
“SOAR provides a space for survivors to connect with people who understand them,” explains Melissa Loughran, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Director of Nursing and Burn Operations at the Temple Burn Center. “They form relationships with members with similar experiences and are supported as they reintegrate into society.”
Temple’s SOAR program has 10 Peer Supporters: survivors who have been trained to work one-on-one with patients and help them navigate their recoveries. They’re part of a monthly virtual support group and participate in quarterly community reintegration events, including a Peer Supporter Mindfulness and Wellness Day, a Phillies game outing, and SOAR’s annual holiday party.
“These events keep survivors connected to the Temple Burn Center community and help them stay engaged as they move through recovery,” Loughran says. “We also provide opportunities for survivors to volunteer within the broader Temple community, including serving on the Patient Family Advisory and Safety Councils and participating in Patient Experience events. By focusing on all they can contribute, we empower survivors and help build their self-worth.”
“That emphasis on the human element of burn care—on supporting survivors as people, not just patients—is what sets the Temple Burn Center apart,” Loughran continues. “It’s why we have such a robust community of survivors, including many patients from out of state. At this year’s holiday party, one of our survivors’ family members shared, ‘If you go to any other health system, they’re not able to reach your level. You’ve set the bar at the Temple Burn Center.’”
SOAR’s virtual peer support group meets on the second Thursday of every month. If you’re interested in joining or would like to refer someone, please email [email protected].