The Delivery Assessment Tool (DAT).

The DAT helps local staff self assess their burn service through open group discussion around 10 priority areas:

1. Policies and Procedures

2. Burn Service Activities

3. Burn Care team

4. Surgery

5. Assessment and Nursing Care

6. Treatment

7. Rehabilitation

8. Patient Support

9. Data and Outcomes

10. Equipment and Facilities

Each area is broken down into sub sections with a specific service receiving a score out of 10 based on how staff perceive the level of achievement in that area. For example, Section 4 Surgery is divided into 5 sub-sections: Escharotomy/fasciotomy; Early excision; Skin grafting; Reconstructive surgery and Surgical capacity.

Typically, the DAT is used to demonstrate improvements in:

• the overall score

• at least one priority area.

DAT gives stakeholders a strong sense of ownership and the means to assess and improve burn services on an ongoing basis.