DDGM Messages for 2009-2010

Shriners Hospitals for Children: Leading the Way in Pediatric Specialty Care:

Shriners Hospitals for Children is the largest Pediatric sub-specialty health care system in the world. Located in the United States , Canada and Mexico , this one-of-a-kind health care system is dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing expert Pediatric speciality care, conducting innovative research and providing outstanding medical education programs.

Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, with no financial obligation to the patient or their family. Acceptance is based solely on a child's medical needs. A family's income or insurance status is not criteria for a child's acceptance as a patient.

Since 1922, Shiners Hospitals for Children has specialized in caring for children with orthopaedic conditions. Patients receive care for such conditions as clubfoot, brittle bone disease, limb deficiencies, scoliosis and the effects of neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. Shriners Hospitals for Children has the largest full-time staff of paediatric orthopaedic surgeons in the U.S.

Shriners Hospitals for Children entered the field of pediatric burn care in the 1960s after recognizing a lack of medical expertise in the field. Burn care can include surgeries, continuous internal feeding, innovative infection control measure, scar reconstruction and extensive rehabilitation. In addition, Shriners Hospitals for Children offers programs to assist patients and families with the sometimes difficult re-adjustment to their communities and school. This world-class health care system also provides rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries. These programs provide long-term rehabilitative care and intensive physical, occupational and recreation therapies for children and teens with spinal cord injuries designed to help patients live full, productive lives.

Since first opening in the mid 1960s, Shriners Hospitals has provided care for more that 50,000 patients with burn injuries, helping them go on to lead full, productive lives.

In 2005, cleft lip and palate was officially added to Shriners Hospitals for Children's treatment disciplines. Patients receive lip and palate repair, nasal reconstruction, facial work and dental procedures, as well as audiological, speech and psychological services.

Shriners Hospitals for Children has outstanding research and educational programs. For more than 30 years, the health care system has been a leader in research efforts, developing new treatments and significantly adding to medical knowledge and expertise in orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord injury care throughout the world. Many of the best doctors in the world received some of their training at Shriners Hospital for Children.

If you know a child with orthopaedic problems, a burn injury, a spinal cord injury, or a cleft lip and palate that Shriners Hospitals for Children might be able to help, please call our toll-free number 1-800-361-7256 in Canada .

As a non-profit organization, Shriners Hospitals for Children relies on the generous donations of Shriners and the general public to carry our its mission and change the lives of children every day. For more information about supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children please visit www.donate2sch.org.

Shriners Hospitals for Children shares its expertise in burn care and research through academic affiliations at noteworthy nearby institutions and through various medical outreach programs. In addition, Shriners Hospitals for Children offers residency and fellowship programs, as well as opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers.

The emphasis on research and education, in addition to excellent treatment, is additional evidence of Shriners Hospitals for Children's total commitment to providing the best care for children with burn injuries.

While the health care system provides this expert care without any financial obligation to patients or families, the organization depends on the generosity of donors to support its mission of caring for children.

In order to provide the best, most up-to-date, innovative treatment to patients with burns and burn-related injuries, Shriners Hospitals for Children has a strong commitment to conducting medical research related to burn injuries and burn care.

Currently, Shriners Hospitals for Children is funding approximately 60 research studies involving different aspects of burn injury and treatment. The health care system is also involved in many additional externally funded burn-related research efforts as well, bringing the total number of research efforts in the field to approximately 200.

Researchers at Shriners Hospital for Children are responsible and recognized for advances in burn care that significantly improve the lives of those with severe burns.

Specific examples of these advances include the invention of cultured skin substitute, which is a major improvement in coverage of large burns. Additional advances in wound healing include proving that prompt surgical removal of burned tissue increases a patient's potential for survival, improves long-term function and decreases the need for reconstructive surgeries.

Advances in fluid resuscitation include the creation of a formula based on the body surface area and body weight, which is more appropriate for pediatric patients and is now, used worldwide. Usage of this formula has decreased the mortality rate from kidney failure among children with sever burn injuries from 100 percent to 56 percent.

Shriners Hospital for Children's research studies brought about the understanding that inhalation injury causes fluid to build up in the lungs, and that additional fluid resuscitation actually reduces this build-up, which has led to a new worldwide standard of care for fluid resuscitation in pediatric burn patients.

In addition, Shriners Hospitals for Children's researchers have contributed to increase understanding of hypermetabolism and the nutrient requirements of patients with burn injuries.

The effects of burn injuries may last a lifetime, and researchers at Shriners Hospital for Children are dedicated to improving long-term outcomes for patients with burn injuries, especially in the areas of scar development, rehabilitation and psychological adjustment. For example, the use of pressure garments helps minimize scarring, and the creation and implementation of a 12 week exercise program decreases the need for reconstructive surgery, improves quality of life, and eases return to the home community.

Researchers at Shriners Hospital for Children share their expertise through academic affiliations at noteworthy nearby institutions and by providing opportunities for post-doctoral researcher.

The emphasis on research and education is proof of Shriners Hospitals for Children's' total commitment to determining, as well as providing, the best care for children with burn injuries.