Shriners Hospital for Children
Shriners Hospital for Children—Philadelphia is a specialty pediatric hospital providing orthopedic care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate services to children regardless of families' ability to pay. Part of the national Shriners Hospitals system, the Philadelphia facility opened in 1926 and has treated hundreds of thousands of children from throughout the region and beyond. The hospital's charitable mission—providing care without charge—distinguishes it from fee-for-service healthcare while enabling focus on complex conditions.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]The Shriners fraternal organization established its first hospital in 1922 to treat children with orthopedic conditions, particularly those resulting from polio. The Philadelphia hospital, opened in 1926, became part of a national network that would grow to include twenty-two facilities across North America. The Shriners' charitable mission—care provided regardless of ability to pay—enabled treatment for children who might otherwise go without.[1]
Polio's conquest through vaccination shifted the patient population from paralysis victims to children with congenital conditions, injuries, and other orthopedic needs. The hospital adapted its expertise to serve changing populations while maintaining focus on pediatric orthopedics. Cleft lip and palate services and spinal cord injury care expanded the hospital's specialty scope while maintaining pediatric focus.[1]
The hospital relocated from its original Center City location to a modern facility in 2016, joining Temple Health's campus in North Philadelphia. The new facility provided contemporary clinical spaces while enabling collaboration with Temple's pediatric services. The relocation demonstrated ongoing Shriners commitment to Philadelphia despite system-wide restructuring that has closed some facilities nationally.[1]
Services
[edit | edit source]Orthopedics
[edit | edit source]The hospital treats children with conditions including scoliosis, limb abnormalities, cerebral palsy, and sports injuries. Complex surgeries correct deformities and restore function, with rehabilitation supporting recovery. The volume of orthopedic cases enables expertise that general hospitals cannot develop, benefiting children with rare or complex conditions.[1]
Spinal Cord Injury
[edit | edit source]Children with spinal cord injuries receive rehabilitation and ongoing care addressing the unique challenges of pediatric paralysis. Unlike adults, children with spinal injuries face developmental considerations as they grow with disabilities. The program addresses these pediatric-specific needs while providing rehabilitation services comparable to adult facilities.[1]
Cleft Lip and Palate
[edit | edit source]Cleft lip and palate services provide surgical repair and ongoing care for children born with these common birth defects. Treatment often extends over years as children grow, requiring multiple surgeries and therapies. The comprehensive program addresses feeding, speech, hearing, and dental issues alongside surgical repair.[1]
No-Cost Care
[edit | edit source]Shriners Hospitals provide care without charge to families, funded by the Shriners organization and philanthropy rather than insurance billing. This model removes financial barriers that might prevent families from seeking care for their children. The commitment to no-cost care reflects the organization's charitable mission while requiring ongoing fundraising and organizational support.[1]
Children are accepted based on medical need and the hospital's ability to help, regardless of insurance status or family income. This criterion focuses on whether the hospital's expertise can benefit the child rather than ability to pay. The model enables treatment for uninsured and underinsured children while also serving those with insurance who seek specialty expertise.[1]