New burn center established in Jackson to fill a need left by recent closure

Officials at UMMC say that plans for the center have been in the works since Merit Health Central closed its burn center last year. The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning approved a request to establish and operate the center last week.

Dr. Alan Jones is the associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs at the medical center. He says being able to send burn victims for treatment locally, instead of out of state, will make their healing processes easier.

"Not only is having to go out of state... disruptive," he said. "You're also trying to heal and get better. We believe having the care in Mississippi... is gonna help them get better sooner."

Some medical staff will need further education and training once the center is certified. Dr. Peter Arnold is professor and chief of plastic surgery at UMMC, and will serve as the medical director for the new burn center. He says that the hospital will need to add more employees, but he's confident that the current staff can serve most burn victims in the state.

"What we've got right now, we're going to be able to safely care for the patients," he said. "Everyone we have now is competent to manage these burns."

Jones says UMMC submitted an application for certification to the state's department of health.