Shriners Children’s Ohio Takes Flight with New Name, Location

Pediatric hospital strengthens mission of world-class specialty care

Shriners Children’s Ohio is ready to soar with a new name, a new location, and a renewed commitment to providing the best care for pediatric burns, cleft lip and palate, and complex skin conditions.

The hospital, formerly known as Shriners Hospitals for Children – Cincinnati, relocated from the Queen City to Dayton, Ohio, in February 2021. That move prompted a name change and launched a new chapter for the entire Shriners Hospitals for Children system. SCO is located within Dayton Children’s Hospital – the first hospital-within-a-hospital in the system’s nearly century-long history.

Celebrating the ribbon cutting of the new Shriners Children’s Ohio located inside Dayton Children’s Hospital.

“We’re in new and territory with this partnership,” said Petra Warner, M.D., FACS, Chief of Staff for Shriners Children’s Ohio. “We’re partnering and sharing resources with the world-class care at Dayton Children’s while still providing wrap-around, specialized treatment in pediatric burns among other reconstructive and plastic surgeries.”

Pillars on the hospital campus representing the four areas of collaboration for children and their families.

This new chapter for Shriners is unfolding in a city known for “firsts.” Dayton is called the birthplace of aviation as it was where brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright first experimented with flight. That same spirit of innovation still lives in the city today through advances in biomedical technology with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, supported by three other hospital systems in addition to Shriners.

In addition to burns, Shriners Children’s Ohio also treats cleft lips and palates, ear deformities, complex wound and skin disorders, and reconstructive conditions, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. While Shriners still operates separately from Dayton Children’s, the two hospitals can share services in lab work, pharmacy and surgical centers. Patients and families also share the same amenities including the cafeteria, playground and even the Ronald McDonald House.

Burns patient Deyvion showing his wingspan in the shared atrium of Dayton Children’s and Shriners Children’s Ohio.

“Repositioning ourselves allows us to still meet the needs of our patients in a more economic and efficient way,” Randall White, SCO hospital administrator said. “It’s two hospitals, offering world-class care, under one roof.”

What hasn’t changed is the hospital’s mission to provide the best specialty health care to children in a family-centered environment. Everything at Shriners is designed to make children and their families feel at home. All wraparound, comprehensive care is focused to meet the physical, functional, cosmetic and social needs of patients and their families. Shriners Children’s Ohio is recognized as a verified burn center by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons. This distinction recognizes the immense clinical research done on behalf of their patients, as well as the depth of support services.

Those support services are partially funded through the generosity of Shriners International, the fraternity that continues to support Shriners Hospitals for Children as its official philanthropy partner. Some members, known as road runners, will pick up a patient and family for an appointment and bring them home, at no cost to the family.

“Our Shriners are incredibly generous and committed to making sure every child has access to care when they need it,” White said. “They often form friendships with the families that are life-long bonds. When you add that to our services, Shriners Children’s Ohio is a top choice for care.”

The New Shriners Children’s Ohio

Shriners Children’s Ohio is located on the second floor of Dayton Children’s Hospital. Its suite is divided into three main sections: OT/PT, Outpatient Care, and Inpatient Care.

Occupational/Physical Therapy

The goal of the occupational/physical therapy department is to prevent deformities, restore movement and complete range of motion following burn injury. Therapists work with patients and families to achieve the best functional and cosmetic results. Individualized programs are developed to help patients return to their pre-burn level of activity. Therapy involves work in the areas of mobility, scar management, self-care and activities of daily living to assure a child’s total recovery.

A doll is used to show patients how a custom-fit mask will apply pressure to their face to reduce the effects of scarring from burns.

Outpatient Care

Outpatient services provide follow-up care for patients discharged from the hospital following plastic or reconstructive surgery. The department also manages and evaluates new referrals for small burn injuries and congenital disorders. The physicians, nurses, occupational/physical therapists and care coordinators work together to carefully evaluate a child’s condition, manage a child’s progress and develop a care plan that provides the best possible outcome for the child.

Outpatient visit to check healing progress of cleft lip and palate patient, Raquel

 Inpatient Care

During a child’s stay, the Shriners staff does its best to help the family in every way possible. The goal is to treat the child while helping the entire family to adjust to the stress the medical condition or injury has caused. Because children need love and emotional support from parents and families, Shriners Children’s Ohio practice a “family-centered” approach to care.

“Families are actively involved in a child’s care and recovery plan, along with transition back to home and school,” Dr. Petra Warner said. “We consider the unique physical, emotional and developmental needs of each patient’s situation.”

The inpatient rooms are designed to keep families close with a private bathroom and seating area.

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Patient Referrals: 855-206-2096

Outreach and Education: please call Veronica Bowden at 513-609-7138.

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