First Shriners Hospitals for Children Satellite Clinic Opens in Winnipeg, Canada

February 5, 2009

Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada, along with the Rehabilitation Centre for Children of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) and the Khartum Shriners announce the official opening of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Satellite Orthopaedic Clinic.

The purpose of the clinic is to evaluate children referred to Shriners Hospitals for Children from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut or North Western Ontario, to determine whether they can be treated in Winnipeg or whether they need to be seen in at Shriners Hospital for Children in Montreal for specialized orthopaedic care. The new clinic is one of 14 clinics available for children with special needs at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children. In the first year, the clinic will function as a pilot project operating a half day per month approximately10 times/year.

The clinic will be operated by Shriners Hospitals for Children and will be staffed by orthopaedic surgeons who are credentialed with both the Shriners Hospitals and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s systems.

According to Dr. Susan Thompson, “The primary purpose of the clinic will be assessment and diagnosis.” If a child assessed at the clinic requires further treatment that can be managed locally, the child will be referred to the Winnipeg health care system. For conditions that cannot be managed locally, the child will be transferred to the Shriners Hospital in Montreal. Follow-up care will be coordinated by Shriners Hospital through the Winnipeg clinic.

Dr. Brian Postl, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said the clinic will ensure children get the most appropriate care, in the most appropriate place. “Any child who can be seen and treated here at home will be,” said Dr. Postl. “But those who would benefit from specialized care in Montreal will get that.”

"This satellite clinic represents transportation cost savings for Shriners Hospital and the Khartum Shriners," said Céline Doray, administrator at Shriners Hospital- Canada. "More importantly, we will be able to help more patients from this area, as well as reduce stress, travel and time away from home, school and work for these families.”

Khartum Shriners of Winnipeg will provide support for this clinic through fundraising, volunteering and publicity. Referrals to the clinic will originate through the regular Shriners Hospitals’ process through local Shriners or Manitoba and other provincial health care systems. The Shriners Hospital will contact the clinic to arrange appointments for families.