How to Get a Child Into Shriners Children's Hospital

There are 22 Shriners Children's Hospitals throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. The hospitals specialize in treating children with specific medical problems. The hospitals were started in 1922 with one hospital. The unique thing about Shriners Children's Hospital is they do not charge for treatment. This allows children of all economic levels to receive the proper medical care regardless of their finances.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine your child's eligibility. Shriners Hospitals treat children with orthopedic problems, spinal cord injuries, burns and cleft lips. Not all of the 22 hospitals treat each medical problem. Children are eligible from birth up until age 18.

• 2

  Discuss your child's situation with his or her doctor. Take into consideration the care that is available in your area and your ability to pay. Keep in mind Shriners does not charge for their services. Determine if medical care elsewhere is not feasible due to financial circumstances.

• 3

  Locate the Shriners Hospital closest to you. Go to the hospitals website to find which hospital is in your area. Keep in mind the Shriners hospital closest to you may not treat your child's particular condition. If the closest hospital is still too far for you to live at home during treatment the hospitals social workers can help you with housing information while your child is being treated.

• 4

  Obtain an application. It may be downloaded from the Shriners Children's Hospitals website. Be sure to thoroughly complete the application to avoid delay in the process. Once you have completed the application return it to the Shriners Hospital nearest to where you live.

• 5

  Have your child's doctor contact the hospitals in the case of burns. The emergency admission process for burns is different than other type of admissions. Your child's doctor needs to select one of the four hospitals that treat burns and contact the chief of staff at that hospital.

• 6

  Call the Shriners Children's Hospital patient referral line with specific questions. They can be reached at 1-800-237-5055. They can answer questions on the application process or questions regarding admission.