A partnership proposal to align the services of Shriners Hospitals for Children® — Springfield and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, Conn., was presented to the delegates at the 138th Imperial Session of Shriners International in July. The proposed multi-phase plan outlines opportunities for both hospitals to combine clinical and financial resources to expand pediatric subspecialty services to children in the New England and Upstate New York regions.
“Our goals for proposing a mutually beneficial long-term partnership with Connecticut Children’s is to increase operational efficiencies, grow our core orthopaedic volume and expand surgical subspecialty services offered at the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, while preserving our mission and strengthening our identity,” said Charles R. Walczak, administrator for the Springfield hospital. “For its partnership commitment, Connecticut Children’s will be positioned to obtain significant market share in several surgical subspecialties and expand its reputation outside Connecticut.”
“As these partnership opportunities are being explored, our local board members want to assure the Shriners Hospital family that securing a viable and sustainable future for the hospital is at the heart of our discussions with the leadership team at Connecticut Children’s. Our commitment to future generations remains as strong as our legacy to the countless children whose lives Shriners Hospital has changed over the past 87 years,” said David H. Burstein, Esq., Hospital Board Chairman.
“Both Connecticut Children’s and Shriners Hospital have a distinguished history of providing the highest level of care to children,” said Martin J. Gavin, President and CEO of Connecticut Children’s. “We’re looking forward to working closely with Shriners Hospital to expand this care for more children and families in our region.”
During the Imperial Session, the Planning Committee from the Joint Boards of Shriners Hospitals for Children unanimously approved the proposal set forth by the Springfield hospital to pursue partnership opportunities with Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
Shriners Hospitals for Children® is a pediatric health care system of 22 facilities dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. For more information,visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Connect with us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/shrinershosp) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/shrinershospitalsforchildren).
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, the region’s only academic medical center dedicated exclusively to the care of children, is committed to improving children’s physical and emotional health through family-centered care, research, education and advocacy. Named one of America’s Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report, Connecticut Children's offers a full range of quality pediatric services at its hospitals in Hartford and Waterbury, NICUs in Hartford and Farmington, Specialty Care Centers in Farmington, Glastonbury, Hartford and Shelton, and 11 other practice locations.
For more information, visit www.connecticutchildrens.org and connect with us on Twitter (@ctchildrens) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/connecticutchildrens).
Contacts:
Bernadette A. White
Director of Public Relations
Shriners Hospitals for Children® – Springfield
Office: 413.735.1291 / Cell: 413.351.6141
bwhite@shrinenet.org
Kelly Coffey
Media and Public Relations Manager
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
860.610.5701
kcoffey@connecticutchildrens.org