Based on a large volume of cases in Ukraine, Boston Physicians launched the first Shriner’s Outreach Clinic in Eastern Europe, specifically in Ukraine, where Boston physicians travel to annually and treat patients in collaboration with local physicians.  As a result of this clinic, more patients are able to get the care they need without enormously long flights. Now, over the course of several years, local Ukrainian physicians have the experience of working with the Boston physicians.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a health care system of 22 hospitals, dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to age 18 with orthopedic 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 patients’ ability to pay.

The First Eastern-European Shriners Hospital Outreach Clinic in 8th Lviv Hospital’s Burn Center, Lviv, Ukraine in 2011 established due to collaborating efforts of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, who funded this trip, doctors from Shriner’s Hospital (Dr. Fuzaylov and Dr. Driscoll), who donated their time, and Shriners Burn Hospital in Boston along with Massachusetts General Hospital, who donated their supplies. Dr.Vasyl Savchyn organized this clinic and is the Director of the Burn Unit in Lviv. UNWLA is very proud to have been able to make this landmark outreach clinic a reality!

We are continually searching for ways to improve our service to patients and families. This program is designed to make it more convenient and give better access for families who have to travel long distances to reach the Boston hospital. Some families spend two whole days to make it to Boston and back. This may include time that the child has to be out of school or days the parents have to take off from work. The idea is that we go to the families instead of the families coming to us. This saves the family time, resources and makes the system more efficient.

Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, performs follow up care for their patients In Lviv, Ukraine. The patients that are pre-selected by the staff to attend these clinics are patients who will need regular visits for uncomplicated follow-up care. X-ray services are provided in the host city and are done before the team sees the patient.

The doctors, on average, see 30 to 40 patients during a clinic. Most are following up patients from Ukraine but we can have some new patients that are evaluated with orthopedic, burn, cleft lip/palate abnormalities.