Ethan Rhodes
Shriners Hospitals for Children is closing its Tampa facility, marking the end of 35 years of free orthopedic care for children in the area. The hospital was downgraded from an inpatient facility to an outpatient clinic in 2019, and its impending closure was leaked to the public prematurely. Shriners Children's Florida says the transition of clinical services will redistribute services to better align with emerging models of care.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of closure | 1 April 2022 |
| Reason for closure | Transition from inpatient care to outpatient-focused models of care |
| Future plans | Expand care throughout the state and strengthen local, regional and statewide affiliates |
| Closest Shriners facilities post-closure | Greenville, SC; Shreveport, LA; Lexington, KY |
| Impact | Dozens of layoffs |
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What You'll Learn
Shriners Hospital's transition to outpatient-focused care
Shriners Hospitals for Children is closing its Tampa facility, transitioning to outpatient-focused care. The hospital has provided orthopedic care to children in Tampa, free of charge, for the past 35 years. The decision to close the facility was not made overnight, according to the Chief Communication and Marketing Officer of Shriners Children's Florida, Mel Bower. In 2019, the hospital was downgraded from facilitating both inpatient and outpatient care to solely outpatient care, in preparation for its eventual closure.
The closure of the Tampa hospital will enable Shriners to expand its care network throughout Florida and strengthen its local, regional, and statewide affiliates. Bower stated that the organization is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for patients and employees, and they are working on identifying pathways to maintain a level of specialized care in the Tampa Bay region. The Shriners Children's healthcare system will maintain its headquarters in Tampa, where the Shriners International philanthropic organization is also based.
The transition of clinical services at the Tampa facility began on April 1, 2022, and was expected to be sequenced over several months. During this period, Shriners Children's Florida aimed to redistribute services to better align with emerging models of care and care for more children in more places. Bower also emphasized that the closure and partnering with affiliates would allow more children across the region to access their services in the future.
While the closure of the Tampa facility may cause disruptions for some patients and their families, Shriners is working to minimize the impact. They plan to work with each family to ensure a smooth transition to alternative care options. The closest Shriners facilities to Tampa are now in Greenville, South Carolina, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The only other Shriners Children's hospital in the southeast US is located in Lexington, Kentucky.
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The impact on patients and their families
The closure of Shriners Hospital in Tampa will undoubtedly have a significant impact on patients and their families. For 35 years, the hospital has provided free orthopedic care to children in the Tampa Bay area, and its closure will displace families who rely on the proximity of its services.
One patient, 12-year-old Brooklyn Drury, who has cerebral palsy, had surgery planned for June at Shriners Hospital. The surgery, which was to be performed in the hospital's state-of-the-art "motion lab", was expected to enable her to walk straight. However, with the hospital's closing, Brooklyn's mother, Angie, expressed her concern about losing access to their trusted surgeon, physical therapist, and other caregivers who have become like family. Their story illustrates the disruption and uncertainty faced by many patients and their families due to the closure.
The closest Shriners facilities to Tampa are now in Greenville, South Carolina, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The long distance to these alternative facilities will likely pose challenges for families, requiring them to travel significant distances to access specialized care. This may result in increased financial burdens, especially for families who have come to depend on the free orthopedic care provided by Shriners Hospital.
The closure of the Tampa hospital is expected to result in layoffs for dozens of staff members. However, Shriners Children's Florida has stated that they will work with each family to ensure a smooth transition to alternative care options. They plan to expand their care throughout the state by strengthening local, regional, and statewide affiliates. While the specific affiliates have not yet been named, Shriners aims to partner with organizations that complement their services to provide care for more children across Florida.
Despite these efforts, the closure of Shriners Hospital in Tampa will undoubtedly disrupt the lives of patients and their families, requiring them to adapt to new care providers and, in some cases, incur additional travel and financial expenses to access specialized pediatric orthopedic care.
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The future of specialised care in Tampa Bay
Shriners Hospitals for Children is closing its Tampa facility, marking the end of 35 years of orthopedic care for children in the area. The hospital's decision to close was not a hasty one, according to Shriners' Chief Communication and Marketing Officer, Mel Bower. The hospital has been preparing for this eventuality since 2019 when it was downgraded from an inpatient hospital to an outpatient clinic.
The closure of the Tampa hospital will enable Shriners to expand its care network throughout Florida and strengthen its local, regional, and statewide affiliates. Bower stated that the organization is committed to identifying ways to continue providing patient care in the region. This includes transitioning portions of their care to local and state affiliates to complement their services. While the closure will result in dozens of layoffs, Shriners plans to work closely with each family to ensure a smooth transition to alternative care options.
The closest Shriners facilities to Tampa are now in Greenville, South Carolina, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The only other Shriners Children's hospital in the southeastern US is located in Lexington, Kentucky. Despite the closure of the Tampa facility, the Shriners Children's healthcare system will maintain its headquarters in Tampa, where it has been for over 40 years.
The future of specialized care in Tampa Bay looks promising, with Shriners Hospitals working to establish a potential care pathway to uphold a level of specialized care in the region. Bower emphasized that the closure and collaboration with affiliates will enable more children across Tampa Bay to access their services in the future. This transition of clinical services aims to redistribute services to better align with emerging models of care. While the closure of the Tampa Shriners Hospital has caused uncertainty and disruption for patients and their families, Shriners Hospitals are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining their presence in the Tampa Bay area.
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Shriners' premature announcement
Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa, Florida, was forced to announce the closure of its outpatient facility prematurely after news of the impending closure leaked. The hospital had not intended to make the announcement until after finding affiliate hospitals to operate out of, and establishing a future care pathway for patients.
The clinic's closure was not a decision made overnight. In 2019, the hospital was downgraded from facilitating both inpatient and outpatient care to solely outpatient care, in preparation for its eventual closure. The closure will enable Shriners to expand care throughout the state and strengthen local, regional, and statewide affiliates.
The Tampa hospital was Shriners' only facility in Florida, and its closure will displace families who relied on the proximity of its care. The closest Shriners facilities are now in Greenville, South Carolina, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The only other Shriners Children's hospital in the southeast US is in Lexington, Kentucky.
Despite the closure, Shriners Children's Florida says it will keep its corporate headquarters in Tampa at Rocky Point. The healthcare system has been headquartered in Tampa for over 40 years.
Shriners spokesman Mel Bower said the organization is working to identify ways to continue providing patient care in the region. "As healthcare has evolved from inpatient care to outpatient-focused models of care, we have already started transitioning portions of our care to local and state affiliates who complement our services locally and throughout the state of Florida," Bower said.
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The downgrading of the Tampa facility in 2019
The Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, Florida, was downgraded from an inpatient hospital to an outpatient clinic in 2019. This change was made to align with the evolving healthcare landscape, which was shifting towards outpatient-focused models of care.
The decision to downgrade the facility was a significant one, as it meant that patients who previously relied on the hospital for inpatient care would now have to seek alternative options. This resulted in families having to travel farther distances to access similar treatment, with the closest Shriners facilities located in Greenville, South Carolina, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
The impact of the downgrading was felt not only by the patients and their families but also by the staff at the hospital. The transition to an outpatient clinic resulted in layoffs for some employees, with the exact number unknown. However, Shriners stated that they would work closely with each family to ensure a smooth transition to alternative care options.
Despite the downgrading, Shriners remained committed to providing care in the Tampa region. They planned to work with local and state affiliates to expand their services and continue serving the community. In a statement, Mel Bower, a spokesperson for Shriners, emphasized their ongoing dedication to patient care:
> "As health care has evolved from inpatient care to outpatient-focused models of care, we have already started transitioning portions of our care to local and state affiliates who complement our services locally and throughout the state of Florida."
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Frequently asked questions
Shriners Hospital in Tampa is closing because, as healthcare has evolved from inpatient care to outpatient-focused models, the hospital has started transitioning portions of its care to local and state affiliates.
Shriners Hospital in Tampa closed on April 1, 2022.
The closure put the treatment plans of many patients on hold, including 12-year-old Brooklyn Drury, who has cerebral palsy. It also caused dozens of layoffs.
The closure of the Tampa hospital equipped Shriners with the capacity to expand care throughout the state and strengthen local, regional, and statewide affiliates.
Mel Bower, a spokesperson for Shriners, said that the hospital was forced to break the news prematurely after the information leaked. He added that their plan was to first establish an affiliate relationship and then inform patients and the public.
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