Shriners Hospitals for Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children. It is a network of pediatric specialty hospitals, outpatient facilities, and clinics founded and supported by Shriners International, a fraternal organization. The system provides advanced medical care to children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the family's ability to pay. Since its establishment, it has treated over 1.5 million children across North America.

History

The concept for the hospitals originated in 1920 when Freeland Kendrick, then Imperial Potentate of Shriners International, proposed creating a philanthropic project to treat children with polio and other orthopedic disabilities. The first facility, Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children — Shreveport, opened in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1922. The network expanded rapidly throughout the 20th century, with a significant milestone occurring in the 1960s with the opening of the first dedicated burn center in Cincinnati, Ohio. This established the system as a leader in pediatric burn care and reconstructive surgery. Throughout its history, the organization has adapted its services, notably shifting focus after the development of the Salk vaccine reduced polio cases, and later expanding into specialized care for spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.

Mission and services

The mission is to provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries, and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered environment. All care is provided regardless of the family's ability to pay or insurance status. Core services include specialized orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries, acute and reconstructive burn care, and comprehensive treatment for cleft lip and palate. The hospitals utilize multidisciplinary teams involving pediatric orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. The system is renowned for its expertise in complex procedures such as limb lengthening and the management of conditions like scoliosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and cerebral palsy.

Hospital network

The network comprises 22 locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These include both stand-alone hospitals and outpatient facilities affiliated with major academic medical centers. Key locations include the flagship Philadelphia hospital, a major center for orthopedic research and spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and the Galveston facility, which houses one of the nation's largest pediatric burn centers. Other significant sites are in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. The network also includes partnerships with institutions like the University of Texas Medical Branch and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to enhance clinical services and research collaboration.

Funding and governance

The healthcare system is primarily funded through the endowment of Shriners International, which is supported by donations from its members and the public. A significant annual fundraising event is the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a PGA Tour golf tournament. The network is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Shriners International, with day-to-day operations managed by a professional executive team led by the CEO. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not bill patients or families for services not covered by insurance, relying on its endowment, donations, and some third-party reimbursements to cover all costs of patient care.

Research and education

The organization maintains a strong commitment to advancing pediatric medicine through its Research Center, with major facilities in Tampa, Philadelphia, and Sacramento. Research focuses on areas such as bone biology, muscle regeneration, burn recovery, and spinal cord injury repair. The hospitals are actively involved in medical education, serving as teaching sites for residents and fellows from affiliated institutions like Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. They also offer numerous continuing medical education programs and fellowships in pediatric orthopedics and burn surgery, contributing to the training of the next generation of specialists in these fields.

Category:Hospital networks in the United States Category:Pediatric hospitals in the United States Category:Shriners