
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric medical facilities across North America. The hospitals provide specialised care for children with a range of conditions, including orthopaedic issues, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Children's has a long history of providing compassionate and comprehensive paediatric care, with a focus on family-centred care and improving the overall well-being of their patients. While it is known for its specialised services, the question remains whether Shriners Hospitals have the capacity to handle emergency situations and provide urgent care for children in need.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Hospitals | Non-profit children's hospitals and other pediatric medical facilities |
| Treatment | Orthopedic, spine, burn, and other specialty care and rehab |
| Patient Age Group | Children, usually until age 18, sometimes extended to 21 |
| Treatment Cost | Free |
| Number of Hospitals | 22 (20 in the US, 1 in Canada, 1 in Mexico) |
| Hospital Size | Varies, one hospital is 90,000 sq. ft. with 12 inpatient beds, 3 surgical suites, and 18 examination rooms |
| Year of Establishment | 1924 |
| Endowment | $5 billion in 2009, $10 billion in 2023 |
| Staff | Doctors, nurses, therapists, surgeons, pediatric orthopedic surgeons, pediatric neurologists |
| Patient Feedback | Positive, with patients and families reporting feeling empowered, happy, and well cared for |
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What You'll Learn

Shriners Hospitals for Children's history
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric medical facilities across North America. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Freemasonry-related organisation whose members are known as Shriners. The hospitals were established in the early 1920s, during a polio epidemic that swept across the United States, leaving many children without appropriate care. The first hospital in the system opened on 16 September 1922, providing orthopaedic care.
In 1962, the Shriners of North America allocated $10 million to establish three hospitals specialising in the treatment and rehabilitation of burned children. The first of these was built on the campus of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Shriners Children's has since expanded to include hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centres, and outreach locations. The organisation works closely with the United States Southern Command and other military commands, including the Army and Air Force, as well as international governments and departments, to arrange medical visas and transportation to the United States for children around the world.
In 2008, the Shriner's Hospital in Galveston sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ike. Despite considering closing several facilities, the Shriners National Convention voted in 2009 to repair and reopen the Galveston facility. That same year, the organisation's endowment declined from $8 billion to $5 billion, prompting the announcement that some facilities would become outpatient surgical centres and would begin accepting insurance payments for the first time in the hospitals' history.
In 2015, Shriners Hospitals for Children became a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. In the 2020s, the organisation rebranded as Shriners Children's, reflecting the growing emphasis on outpatient care and the transformation of some locations into clinics or outpatient centres. As of 2023, Shriners Children's has assets of just over $10 billion and continues to provide innovative paediatric specialty care, world-class research, and outstanding medical education.
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Shriners Hospitals for Children's locations
Shriners Hospitals for Children, also known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric medical facilities across North America. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, an organisation formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Freemasonry-related group whose members are known as Shriners.
The Shriners Hospitals network has been providing paediatric care for over 100 years, focusing on a range of orthopaedic issues, as well as burn injuries, craniofacial conditions, spine care, spinal cord injuries, colorectal and gastrointestinal care, and sports medicine. Shriners Children's is committed to conducting research to improve treatments and the quality of life for children worldwide.
The Shriners Hospitals network includes facilities in the following locations:
- Boston
- Chicago
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Galveston, Texas
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Erie, Pennsylvania
- Spokane, Washington
- Springfield (Massachusetts and Portland)
- Lexington
- Cincinnati
- Sacramento
The Shriners of North America allocated $10 million in 1962 to establish three hospitals specialising in treating and rehabilitating burned children. The first of these was built on the campus of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. In 2008, this hospital was damaged by Hurricane Ike and temporarily closed for renovation, with patients redirected to other Shriners Hospitals.
In 2009, the Shriners National Convention voted against closing any hospitals, including those previously considered for closure in Shreveport, Greenville, Erie, Spokane, Springfield, and Galveston.
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Shriners Hospitals for Children's areas of treatment
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and other paediatric medical facilities across North America. Shriners Children's is committed to conducting research that will improve medical treatments and the quality of life for children. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Freemasonry-related organisation whose members are known as Shriners.
The hospitals provide treatment for a wide range of paediatric orthopaedic conditions, including scoliosis, limb discrepancies, clubfoot, hip dysplasia, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. They also treat cerebral palsy, spina bifida (myelomeningocele), and other neurological conditions that affect ambulation and movement. Three of the hospitals provide spinal cord injury rehabilitation that is developmentally appropriate for children and adolescents, with adventure and adapted sports programs, activity-based rehabilitation, aqua therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and other programs.
Four of the hospitals (Boston, Galveston, Cincinnati, and Sacramento) provide care for children with burns, as well as treating a variety of skin conditions such as epidermolysis bullosa and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The Boston, Chicago, Shreveport, Galveston, Springfield, and Portland hospitals also provide treatment for children with craniofacial conditions, cleft lip and palate, and other specialty care.
The hospital in Sacramento is the only hospital in the Shriners' system that focuses on all three areas of treatment (burns, orthopaedics, and spinal cord injuries), as well as research. The Sacramento hospital also houses its own orthotics and prosthetics lab and development facilities.
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Shriners Hospitals for Children's patient experiences
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and other paediatric medical facilities across North America. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, an organisation related to Freemasonry. However, patients are not required to have any familial affiliation with the Shriners order or Freemasonry.
The hospitals provide care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Care is usually provided until the age of 18, but it may be extended to 21 in some cases.
Shriners Children's has been providing hope and healing to children for over 100 years, with a focus on improving the quality of life and treatment for children worldwide. Their doctors and care teams are committed to excellence in paediatric care, with nurses devoted to patients' and their families' overall well-being.
Grayson, a patient ambassador for Shriners Children's, shared his experience with proximal focal femoral deficiency, which resulted in a limb that was significantly shorter than the other. Grayson and his family were initially overwhelmed by the diagnosis, but they found comfort and support at Shriners. The medical team worked closely with them, and Grayson underwent a limb-lengthening procedure, which improved his mobility and functionality. Grayson also highlights the positive atmosphere at Shriners, where he could enjoy games and feel excited about his appointments.
Another patient, Paige, shared her experience at Shriners Children's Texas. She suffered a physical seizure in class, which led to a diagnosis of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Paige and her family arrived at Shriners, where they immediately felt reassured by the competent and prepared medical team. The doctors were open and honest, and Paige received the specialised care she needed.
Shriners Hospitals for Children also works closely with military commands and government departments to arrange medical visas and transportation for patients, reflecting their global commitment to helping children worldwide.
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Shriners Hospitals for Children's financial status
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric medical facilities across North America. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Freemasonry-related organisation. The first hospital in the system opened on 16 September 1922, providing orthopaedic care. In 1962, the Shriners of North America allocated $10 million to establish three hospitals specialising in treating and rehabilitating burned children.
The hospitals provide care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of their families' ability to pay or insurance status. Shriners Children's accepts most private insurance plans, but insurance is not required for treatment. Families without insurance may be eligible for financial assistance. Shriners Children's works with families to cover the cost of their child's medical care, but it cannot always provide financial assistance for other incidentals related to the child's care. Financial assistance programs available include the Charity Care program and the Shrine Assistance program.
In 2009, the Shriners endowment declined from $8 billion to $5 billion in less than a year due to the poor economy. Despite this, the hospitals' CEO, Douglas Maxwell, expressed confidence in the hospital system's long-term solvency. As of 2023, Shriners Hospitals for Children has assets of just over $10 billion.
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Frequently asked questions
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of hospitals and medical facilities across North America. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, a Freemasonry-related organisation. Shriners Hospitals for Children provides paediatric orthopaedic, spine, burn, and other speciality care and rehab.
Shriners Hospitals for Children does not explicitly mention having an emergency room. However, they provide a range of paediatric speciality care services and have a history of responding to emergency situations, such as arranging medical visas and transportation for patients in collaboration with military commands.
Shriners Hospitals for Children offers a wide range of treatments, including orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. They also treat conditions like scoliosis, limb discrepancies, clubfoot, hip dysplasia, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. Some hospitals within the network specialise in burn care and treating skin conditions.
Shriners Children's is known for its compassionate and skilled medical staff, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for patients and their families. They provide family-centred care, ensuring that patients' emotional and psychological well-being is prioritised alongside medical treatment. Shriners Hospitals for Children also operates as a non-profit organisation, providing care regardless of patients' ability to pay.




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