Mass General Nurses Fight Burn Unit Consolidation: Will Access to Specialized Burn Care Be Compromised?

Each year, thousands of individuals suffer burn injuries requiring specialized medical attention. In the face of such critical needs, any alteration to the healthcare landscape, especially concerning burn units, raises significant questions about patient access and quality of care. Currently, a concerning situation is unfolding in Boston, Massachusetts, where Mass General Brigham (MGB) plans to consolidate burn units, sparking opposition from nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). This move has ignited a debate: Mass General Nurses Fight Burn Unit Consolidation: Will Access to Specialized Burn Care Be Compromised?

The Proposed Consolidation: A Clash of Perspectives

Mass General Brigham (MGB) announced plans to unify the burn units at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) onto the Mass General campus. MGB argues that this consolidation will “strengthen burn care” by unifying clinical expertise, maintaining high-acuity skills, ensuring readiness, and supporting the long-term sustainability of burn specialty care through a unified call pool, predictable staffing, and streamlined on-site coverage. They state that this move will not reduce care or labor, as all nurses from the Burn, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Unit and Intermediate Unit will continue in their roles, and the unit will remain open to serve other trauma patients. The unified burn center is expected to launch in March 2026, pending regulatory approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which will initiate a 120-day review period for any change in hospital services.

However, the 4,000 nurses at BWH, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), strongly disagree. They believe this consolidation is “the wrong decision for our patients and our nurses.” Kelly Morgan, labor and delivery nurse and BWH MNA chair, stated, “Brigham nurses bring extraordinary clinical skill, specialized training, and decades of experience in burn care to this hospital. These skills belong here at the Brigham, not moved across the system. Our patient care community deserves direct access to burn expertise at BWH.”

Concerns About Access to Specialized Burn Care

The core of the nurses’ opposition lies in the potential compromise of patient access to specialized burn care. Their concerns are multifaceted:

Diminished Institutional Knowledge: Nurses fear that moving burn care away from BWH risks diminishing the institutional knowledge and expertise that has been cultivated over generations. They emphasize that the consolidation is driven by system-level decisions rather than patient needs.
Forced Transfer of Nurses: While MGB states that no nurses will be forced to transfer, the MNA argues that its contract prevents such forced transfers. However, the union points out that many Brigham burn nurses are likely to remain at BWH because of the strong job protections, as well as the excellent pension, health insurance, and other benefits secured under their MNA union contract.
Weakened Ability to Care for Critically Injured Patients: BWH nurses believe that removing burn services from the hospital will weaken its ability to care for some of the most critically injured patients.
Overriding What is Best for Patients: The nurses are determined to fight to ensure that this highly specialized care remains available to the patients who rely on the Brigham. They insist that corporate decisions should not override what is best for patients, staff, and the community.

The Broader Implications: Quality of Care and Nurse Well-being

The dispute over burn unit consolidation raises broader questions about the quality of care and the well-being of nurses. Studies have shown that nurses in burn units face unique challenges, including:

High Levels of Stress: Caring for burn patients is physically and emotionally demanding, requiring nurses to manage extensive wounds, unpleasant odors, and a high risk of infection.
Work-Life Imbalance: Burn care nurses often experience a work-life imbalance due to the time-consuming and exhausting nature of their work.
Limited Support: Nurses may experience greater levels of stress but receive limited support, which can lead to compassion fatigue and adversely impact the quality of care.
Burnout: Inadequate staffing levels and a mismatch between the number of nurses and available beds can lead to higher rates of burnout.

These challenges highlight the importance of ensuring adequate staffing, providing support for nurses, and maintaining a healthy work environment. The MNA nurses at BWH emphasize that their expertise is irreplaceable and that they will not allow corporate decisions to undermine the quality of care they provide.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The consolidation of burn units also raises legal and ethical considerations. Hospitals have a responsibility to provide quality care to their patients, and any decision that could potentially compromise patient access or quality of care must be carefully scrutinized.

Standard of Care: Consolidation should not lead to a decline in the standard of care provided to burn patients.
Patient Safety: Patient safety must be paramount in any decision regarding consolidation.
Informed Consent: Patients should be informed of any changes to their care and have the opportunity to provide informed consent.
Ethical Obligations: Healthcare providers have ethical obligations to advocate for their patients and ensure that their needs are met.

Seeking Legal Guidance

If you or a loved one has been affected by a burn injury, it is essential to seek legal guidance. A personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and options and can advocate for you to receive the compensation you deserve. They can assess the details surrounding the injury, including the level of care received, and determine if negligence played a role.

Conclusion: A Call for Patient-Centered Decisions

The fight over burn unit consolidation at Mass General Brigham highlights the importance of patient-centered decision-making in healthcare. While healthcare systems may seek to improve efficiency and reduce costs, these goals should not come at the expense of patient access or quality of care. As the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reviews the proposed consolidation, it is crucial to consider the concerns of nurses, patients, and the community to ensure that any changes to the healthcare landscape prioritize the well-being of those who rely on it.