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Last Updated: Feb 25th, 2008 - 02:07:41 |
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| David Powell |
Shriners Hospitals have been serving children since 1922. Today, there are 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children providing care for orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate according to the official website.
One would think that everyone would be aware of the services that these hospitals provide, but according to Bainbridge Kiwanis guest speaker, David Powell, that is not the case.
Powell, a Bainbridge native, recently retired from Georgia Power and returned to the area. A Mason and Shriner, Powell stated that "one of the worst kept secrets there is is Shriners Hospital." According to Powell, the goal this year is to bring awareness to the public of the Shriners and the Shriners Hospital.
The Shriner organization began in 1914 when several members of the Masons broke off to begin a separate organization. This group decided to build a hospital and the first one was built in Louisiana in 1922 to treat polio. With the discovery of the polio vaccine the focus changed to orthopedics. Today, there are 18 orthopedic centers and four burn centers.
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| Shriners Hospital in Tampa |
There is no charge for the services at the Shriners Hospitals. Children are eligible from birth to age 18. The hospitals operate on endowment, wills and fund raisers. The local Shriners benefit greatly from the donations they receive from Bikefest.
Powell stated that because of the Bikefest donations they have been able to replace the van that is used to transport children to the hospital. Powell stated that there are three vans in the Albany tri-center area used to transport children; one in Bainbridge, one in Waycross and the other in Albany. He also stated that they stay busy transporting the children.
For a child with orthopedic problems to be accepted at the Shriners Hospital, the first step is an application that once filled out and returned, goes to an application committee. The committee meets once a month. Normally if the procedures that are needed are within the scope of treatment the hospitals provide, the applications are accepted.
The Shriners Hospital that serves this area is in Tampa Florida. Powell stated that the Chief of Staff, Dr. Dennis Grogan has been at the hospital since 1985. He also invited the general public to visit the hospital when they are in the area for a tour of the hospital.
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