In 1980, Shriners Hospitals for Children established their first spinal cord injury rehabilitation program at the Philadelphia hospital. Additional programs are located within Shriners Hospitals in Chicago and Sacramento.

Shriners Hospitals for Children provides comprehensive rehabilitative care and intensive physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies designed to help injured children and adolescents relearn the basic skills of everyday life. The hospitals also provide psychosocial services to patients and families to emotionally support them through rehabilitation and follow-up services. These services help families learn to manage the unique challenges that lie before them.

Research

Research as an investment for the future of pediatric medicine. The field of medical research is so vast, a research project can take years, possibly decades to complete. When they arrive, breakthroughs not only help transform the lives of Shriners Hospitals patients, but children and adults worldwide. Some of the research projects in spinal cord injury (SCI) currently under investigation:

• ambulation and standing in children with SCI
• description and outcomes of children and and adolescents with SCI
• benefits of functional electrical stimulation (FES)

Education

Research, along with providing the highest quality care to children and educating health care professionals, are the three aspects of the Shriners Hospitals for Children mission statement.