Shrine Hospitals — for Children
Shriners
Hospitals for Children is a network of pediatric specialty hospitals,
founded by the Shrine, where children under the age of 18 receive
excellent medical care absolutely free of charge.
There are
18 orthopaedic Shriners Hospitals, three Shriners Hospitals
dedicated to treating children with
severe burns, and one Shriners Hospital that provides orthopedic,
burn and
spinal cord injury care. Shriners Hospitals are located throughout
North America — 20 in the United States and one each in Mexico and
Canada. These "Centers of Excellence" serve as major referral centers
for children with complex orthopedic and burn problems.
All of the orthopedic hospitals are equipped and staffed to treat
children with congenital orthopedic deformities, problems resulting
from orthopedic injuries, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Three of the orthopedic hospitals (in Chicago, Philadelphia and
Sacramento) also have special programs dedicated to caring for children
with spinal cord injuries.
The Shriners Hospitals in Boston, Cincinnati, Galveston, and Sacramento
treat children with acute, fresh burns; children needing plastic
reconstructive or restorative surgery as a result of "healed" burns;
children with severe scarring, resulting in contractures or interference
with mobility of the limbs; and children with scarring and deformity of
the face.
Shrine Hospitals
There is never a charge to the patient, parent or any third party for any service or medical treatment received at Shriners Hospitals. Shriners Hospitals accept and treat children without regard to race, religion or relationship to a Shriner. Any child may be eligible for treatment at a Shriners Hospital if the child is under 18 and if, in the opinion of the hospital's chief of staff, the child has an orthopedic or burn condition that Shriners Hospitals can help.
