St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children are two well-known organizations in the United States that provide medical care to children in need. While both organizations have a focus on pediatric care, they differ in their history, funding, and approach to healthcare.
History:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded in 1962 by the late entertainer Danny Thomas. His goal was to create a research hospital that would treat children with catastrophic illnesses, regardless of their ability to pay. Today, St. Jude is one of the world’s leading research hospitals, with a focus on pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations.
Shriners Hospitals for Children was founded in 1922 by the Shriners, a fraternal organization dedicated to philanthropy and community service. The Shriners wanted to create a network of hospitals that would provide specialized care to children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Hospitals for Children operates 22 hospitals in North America, with three research centers, and is also primarily funded through donations.
Funding:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations to fund its operations. The hospital does not charge patients or their families for any of its services, including medical treatment, housing, and food. This policy is based on Danny Thomas’s founding principle that “no child should die in the dawn of life.”
Shriners Hospitals for Children is also primarily funded through donations, but it does bill insurance companies and Medicaid for the cost of medical treatment. However, the hospital covers the cost of care for uninsured and underinsured children, and no child or family is ever turned away due to an inability to pay.
Approach to Healthcare:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare, with teams of doctors, nurses, and researchers working together to develop new treatments and cures for pediatric diseases. The hospital treats children with a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, sickle cell disease, and rare genetic disorders. St. Jude is also home to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital-Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, which is sequencing the entire genomes of childhood cancer patients to better understand the genetic basis of cancer.
Shriners Hospitals for Children specializes in orthopedic care, treating children with conditions such as scoliosis, cerebral palsy, and sports injuries. The hospital also has a network of burn centers that treat children with severe burns, as well as a cleft lip and palate program. Shriners Hospitals for Children uses a family-centered care approach, which involves the family in the child’s treatment and recovery process.
Conclusion:
In summary, while both St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children focus on pediatric care, they differ in their history, funding, and approach to healthcare. St. Jude is primarily focused on pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases, and relies solely on donations to fund its operations. Shriners Hospitals for Children specializes in orthopedic care, burns, and cleft lip and palate, and bills insurance companies and Medicaid for the cost of medical treatment, but covers the cost of care for uninsured and underinsured children. Despite their differences, both organizations are committed to providing high-quality medical care to children in need.
