Annual Report 2023-2024

care where the kids are International strategy lets patients stay close to family and familiarity

“The international clinics do not just make healthcare more convenient for these kids — they make it possible.” — Laura Kozloski, executive director for international strategy As the fraternity grows outside the United States, so too does Shriners Children’s reach. In 2018, leaders adopted a vision statement outlining a plan to treat more non-U.S. resident patients closer to their homes. Since then, the healthcare system has adopted a two-pronged approach: conducting more international outreach clinics and creating more permanent access points outside the United States. Last year, Shriners Children’s received about 7,000 international patient referrals, from 108 countries, of which a bit fewer than half were appropriate, accepted and came to our facilities in the United States for care. As the fraternity has grown outside the U.S., particularly in Mexico, Central and South America, however, nobles with a growing desire to bring Shriners Children’s care to their own countries have joined the call to make it easier for kids to access care more conveniently and efficiently. Caring for more kids in more places is part of Shriners Children’s Vision 2035. It is more economical to treat patients in or close to their own countries, as that saves on the costs of travel and lodging, which is often long-term for the patient and family. Because medical costs outside the U.S. are far lower, the same resources can treat more patients than if care were only provided in the U.S.

Just as important, children with a parent who cannot travel (because of a job, other children, taking care of elderly family members, etc.) are able to get the medical care they need. It is less disruptive for the children when they can stay close to home, where there is more support with fewer language or cultural barriers. Being in a more familiar and comfortable environment fosters healing. Some international care milestones: » Mexico – Two new ambulatory clinics opened in Mexico in the past 12 months, in Culiacan, Sinaloa, in December, and in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in April. Each is located within a Hospital Angeles hospital building. Shriners Children’s now has five locations providing care in Mexico: The two new clinics, plus clinics in Monterrey and Tijuana, and the hospital in Mexico City, which is the busiest hospital in the Shriners Children’s system. Another new clinic in Chihuahua City is planned for the near future. » Central America – Shriners Children’s providers held outreach clinics in El Salvador and Panama. A team from Shriners Children’s Greenville traveled to El Salvador where they performed two scoliosis surgeries, evaluated patients with orthopedic conditions, and trained local providers and nurses. Also in 2023, a team from Shriners Children’s Texas traveled to Panama to screen post-acute burn patients and train local providers in burn care. Shriners Children’s is also working with a public university in Panama City to provide orthotics in the country.

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