What You Might Not Know About Shriners in Cincinnati

July 6, 2017 cl/cp, cleft lip, cleft palate, Craniofacial, craniofacial cleft, hospital stays, July 2017 Feature - Craniofacial, Stefanie, surgery 0 Comments

With craniofacial needs as our focus this month, we thought it would be a perfect time to share a little about a resource for families with kiddos with cleft lip and palate: Shriners Hospital for Children — Cincinnati.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with the wonderful folks at Cincinnati Shriners Hospital and pose the questions we thought would be foremost in our readers’ minds.



Q: Can you share a little about Shriners Hospitals for Children?

People may be most familiar with the network of Shriners Hospitals for Children because of the sweet, uplifting national ads that appear on television. Each of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children in North America (with one in Canada and one in Mexico) treats specific pediatric health needs for its region; not all treat every issue.

Cincinnati Shriners Hospital is a designated Cleft Lip and Palate team by the Cleft Palate Foundation and the American Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Association. At Cincinnati Shriners Hospital, treatment for cleft lip and palate is a signature service, along with its cutting-edge burn treatment.


Q: How is your hospital different from a typical hospital?

In 2018, Cincinnati Shriners Hospital will celebrate its 50th year of serving this region’s children with a family-centered philosophy, fostering an environment that keeps parents and families close to the child and actively involved in treatment and recovery. The hospital’s compassionate and highly-skilled staff provide comprehensive care as it always has: regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Cincinnati Shriners Hospital accepts patients for treatment based solely on a child’s medical needs. Medical health insurance is accepted, but not a requirement for treatment. The Shriners organization is committed to insuring that no child in need of service will be turned away for lack of funds.


Q: Can you share about some of the doctors that provide care for children with cleft lip and palate?

The medical staff at Cincinnati Shriners Hospital consists of physicians, surgeons, nurses and PAs, prominent in their specialties. They are leaders in the fields of pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery, burn treatment, rehabilitation, pain management and pediatrics. Many of these doctors are affiliated with the world-renowned Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Attending physicians also hold teaching appointments with many local colleges and universities. Visiting physicians and surgeons are available as needed to ensure the finest, most up-to-date medical care is available to our patients.


Q: What sort of care – and aftercare – can one of your patients expect?

Services are comprehensive; a child’s health care needs will be addressed throughout treatment, recovery and beyond. Treatment of cleft lip and palate is not a “one and done” fix.



As a child grows, adjustments will need to be made throughout his or her life. Cincinnati Shriners Hospital understands this and will be involved in every aspect of a child’s development throughout the growth period.

Here is a brief testimonial video on Cincinnati Shriners Hospital’s excellent Cleft Lip and Palate treatment featuring the twins pictured above.


Q: How do you support adoptive families who are working on attachment and bonding to better endure hospital stays?

Cincinnati Shriners Hospital recognizes that children need the love and emotional support of parents and family during the stressful time of hospitalization and fosters an environment that keeps parents and families actively involved in meeting a child’s needs. The hospital’s health care team works with the family to develop a plan of care to meet each child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs while in the hospital, as well as anticipate the family’s needs in continuing the child’s care at home.


Q: For families that would travel to Cincinnati for care, what accommodations, if any, do you have?

In many cases, a parent may stay in a child’s room during treatment. When this is not possible, Cincinnati Shriners Hospital has Family Care Units, hotel-like suites to make the family as comfortable as possible throughout the child’s treatment. There are also cafeteria and laundry facilities available. These amenities are provided as a part of Cincinnati Shriners Hospital’s Family-centered philosophy of care.


Q: How do most families follow-up post surgery?

These same amenities are available to families throughout their child’s treatment as return visits are necessary. Cincinnati Shriners is working on creation of Telehealth sites to make times between visits easier for families to stay compliant with post-surgical treatment directives.


Q: How would a family schedule, arrange care and travel?

To schedule an appointment at Cincinnati Shriners Hospital call 855-206-2096. You will be directed to family services for travel and room availability.

Cincinnati Shriners Hospital is located close to major interstate highways, making it very accessible by car from most locations. The hospital has its own covered parking garage which is free of charge to families. With the Shriners nationwide network, families unable to make the trip on their own can arrange transportation by contacting their local supporting Shrine temples (chapters). While at the hospital, the local Shrine Temple has a special unit of Hospital Hosts to provide rides to and from the airport, to stores and pharmacies as needed.



Q: Are any of your providers willing to review medical information for a family considering adopting a child from China with cleft lip and palate?

The clinicians at Cincinnati Shriners Hospital are willing to review medical information for a family considering adopting a child from outside the U.S. with cleft lip and palate treatment needs. The contact person for parents who want to share medical records for children from China is Debbie Harrell RN, MSN – she can be reached via email or by phone at 513-824-5718.

Families can also call our main line 513-872-6000 and be directed to the proper department, or contact us through the website.

Stefanie2NHBOSig



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