Possible closure of six free Shriners hospitals scares parents

Source: CNN

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The system's board says it may ask the fraternity's membership in July for authority to close six hospitals -- including the one in Greenville -- largely because the endowment fund that supports the hospitals dropped from $8.5 billion to $5.2 billion over the last year as the stock market plummeted.

The others that could close are in Erie, Pennsylvania; Shreveport, Louisiana; Spokane, Washington; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Galveston, Texas. The Galveston hospital's operations have been suspended since Hurricane Ike flooded it last year.

Deflated investments aren't the only reason the fund has dropped. The hospitals normally operate with donations and the fund's interest, but the system's $856 million 2009 budget is outpacing both, causing the hospitals to take about $1 million per day from the fund, said Ralph Semb, president and CEO of Shriners Hospitals.

Other proposals from the system's board would close just one hospital or none, but slash spending systemwide. Leaders also are exploring other options, such as partnering with non-Shriners hospitals. But one way or another, the system must cut spending by about 30 percent to survive, Semb said.

"If we do nothing, every hospital would have to cut 25 to 30 percent from their budgets, which in effect would shut about six of them anyway, because they couldn't give the services they've been giving," Semb said.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/08/shriners.hospitals/index.html

Fascinating number. 30% of profit goes to administration. That would be an ideal place to start making cuts. As a former health care giver, I am saddened to see health care go the way of wall street. In East Tennessee and southwest Virginia, clearly Profit Care is more important than Patient Care. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62

Shriner's Hospitals are non-profit, and in fact they don't require patients to pay. They are funded by local Masonic groups across the country who supply money for the endowments for the hospitals and from donations from private individuals. There is no profit motive here, because there is no profit.

As has already been pointed out, these hospitals are non-for-profit. Funded by millions of Shrine Masons across the country that have been black-eyed and maligned by hollywood and popular culture.

These are men who volunteer their time and money for fish frys, parades, and fundraisers to raise money for the care and comfort of children who are sick, burned, or just plain poor.

Your instant tirade against for-profit medicine just shows you don't even know what the hell you are talking about. These are some of the finest hospitals in the country, constantly monitored and watched over by dedicated members of the Fraternity, who assure that their name is lended to neither fraud nor abuse.

Declining membership in the Fraternity has led to this and many of the other Masonic charities suffering. They've been cast aside as relics of the past or whatnot, even though they can claim participation in more good works than any other social organization in the world.

I fear for our future when news like this breaks.

Think of joining a Masonic organization, you will not be sorry.

Through prosecution for what are probably multiple violations of federal statues by many thousands of them?

Nope- unlike these kids and their parents- Holder and the folks at the SEC (some of whom are doubtlessly criminals themselves) would appear to be giving them a pass.

:shrug:

hospital "largely because the endowment fund that supports the hospitals dropped from $8.5 billion to $5.2 billion over the last year as the stock market plummeted."

The banisters ARE responsible for this terrible economy and loss of money that various organizations including charitable organizations and individuals are experiencing.

I don't understand why you are confused about that.

>> And the banksters and fraudsters are being held accountable how?
>> Through prosecution for what are probably multiple violations of
>> federal statues by many thousands of them?
>>
>> Nope- unlike these kids and their parents- Holder and the folks
>> at the SEC (some of whom are doubtlessly criminals themselves)
>> would appear to be giving them a pass.

I don't deny that Holder, SEC and the various other fraudsters are
not only guilty but getting away with it. Maybe it was just the
way that I read through the thread but it seemed to have taken a
sudden change in direction - hence I posted my question.

Thanks anyway.

:hi:

:shrug:

That will turn us in to commie fascists!!!

Besides, they will only use the money for funny hats and scooters.

(I get the point)

I witnessed it first hand when I worked near a Shriner's Hospital in MA and constantly saw stories about kids they helped. After I moved here my neighbor's son needed a very specific type of surgery but had no insurance that would cover it and there was no one near here who did the surgery anyway. Oddly enough, this was after I moved here to the mountains of NC that he needed the surgery -- the Shriner's Hospital where I used to live in MA had a surgeon that specialized in the boy's problem. Not only was 100% of his medical treatment & the surgery free, the parents have hit hard times in this economy & couldn't afford the plane tickets -- the Shriners paid to fly the boy and his father up to the surgery and home again. The Shiners had a little 2-room apartment they put the kid & his father up in for the 4 days they had to be up there.

They may wear funny hats but they do amazing work -- I always donate when I see them collecting around here.