AnnualReport2020

Shriners Hospitals is Committed to Finding Efficient, Economically SoundWays to Share Hope and Healing with theWorld The world is fast becoming one gigantic global community. Using technology, community partnerships, affiliations and additional access points, we can reach many more kids in need of our services, in many more places. We continue to increase our efforts to improve the lives of children by providing care outside of the walls of our hospitals and clinics, and beyond the borders of our three “home” countries. These efforts provide opportunities for Shriners Hospitals for Children to serve a significant number of children who, otherwise, would likely never experience the special brand of hope and healing that is the hallmark of our health care system. However, we need to provide those services in ways that are streamlined, effective and cost-efficient. In 2019, the Joint Boards approved a formal International Strategy that includes these principles: 1) ensure best practices for impact 2) respect cultural norms 3) ensure economic stewardship 4) deliver right care in the right place 5) develop a plan for Mexico and Canada 6) build local capabilities. An International Strategy Steering Committee was established, and in January 2020, the Joint Boards approved the recommended strategy, which establishes several goals, including expanding efforts in Canada and Mexico, creating self-sustaining models of outreach in Latin America and the Pacific Rim, increasing local treatment capacities in other areas and increasing local partnerships. Increasing Outreach

Caring for Children Wherever They May Live

An Improved Approach To improve and streamline the current system for international outreach clinics, an international office and centralized database will be established, with system- wide standards being created for every element of the clinics, including the referral process, as well as determinations for local or U.S. care for international patients, and transportation. A team from headquarters, including physicians and clinicians will coordinate with the hospitals to avoid duplication of clinic efforts and ensure education for local medical professionals will be provided. Ultimately, we want the local medical community to be able to treat their children in their home country, with our support, as needed. In addition to serving children at international outreach clinics, many come to our U.S. facilities for care. In 2019, 17,698 patients from 124 countries were treated at Shriners Hospitals for Children sites in the U.S. Eighty-five percent of international volumes to U.S. sites comes from 15 countries; 57% come from Mexico while Panama and Canada are the second and third largest source countries for international patients. We are very proud of our efforts on behalf of the world, and our outreach clinics. We want them to be as effective as possible, which is the goal of the new strategy. As an example of the impact these clinics can have, this year, the clinic in Panama, supported by staff from both our Shreveport and Salt Lake City locations, saw 814 children over four days, Of these, approximately 200 will eventually make the trip to Shreveport for surgery, Clinics Provide Important Care

orthotics/prosthetics or other care. This clinic enjoys extensive support from the Abou Saad Shriners of Panama, Shrine associated ladies’ groups, and other vital volunteers, as well as the support of the Panamanian government. This year, the government provided the four days of full, exclusive access to the pediatric outpatient department at the Hospital del Niño, and the local hospital provided all clinic X-rays free of charge. We also have tremendous support from the First Lady of Panama. Each year, she visits the clinic to show her support and raise the visibility of efforts of the Abou Saad Shriners and Shriners Hospitals for Children. In addition, the First Lady’s office provides airfare for patient parents/guardians’ travel to the Shreveport Hospital and has arranged for patient passports to be issued at no charge to the family. Our health care facilities also hold outreach clinics within their local areas. In 2019, 232 outreach clinics were held in the U.S., helping to reach and care for children closer to their homes. Shriners Hospitals for Children is committed to providing care to as many children as possible, regardless of where they live, and will use the vision, principles and specific plans of the new International Strategy to ensure we reach and care for these children with the hallmark compassion and concern of our organization, as well as being mindful of using our resources wisely and efficiently.

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