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Patient Appointments

Refer a Patient to Shriners

To refer a patient to Shriners Hospital for Children – Northern California, please contact the Referral Center:

Any child under 18 years old is eligible if the child’s condition is within the scope of services the hospital offers. Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California does not require a physician referral. All care is provided regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California is a regional pediatric medical center fully accredited by the Joint Commission. The hospital cares for children throughout the country. It is a destination of choice for patients and families seeking comprehensive, compassionate care for orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip, scars from any cause, gastrointestinal diseases, anorectal disorders, chest wall malformations and other complex medical and surgical needs. The hospital partners with emergency air ambulances to transport critically injured children and coordinates transportation to and from the hospital for patients whose families cannot provide or afford travel.

What to Expect at the First Appointment

A review of the patient’s medical history and a physical exam, followed by a meeting with a provider, are part of the patient’s initial visit. Patients are scheduled for diagnostic tests, if needed, and further evaluation to determine the best course of treatment. Whenever possible, physicians explore non-surgical options first. Patients with pectus carinatum who are bracing candidates may be measured for a brace at the first appointment. If patients with pectus excavatum have decided on surgery at the first appointment, they can be scheduled for CT scan and pulmonary function testing. Individuals with suspected Poland syndrome will also be scheduled for appropriate testing at the first appointment. Most referrals come from pediatricians, but some patients refer themselves. Referring physicians will receive visit notes from the first appointment and will be contacted if the child is identified for surgery. If you are a referring physician and would like to be kept informed of all aspects of your patient’s care following their initial appointment at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California, simply request visit notes from all subsequent appointments. Our providers encourage families to keep in touch with their primary care physicians, especially when patients and their physicians reside outside the northern California area.

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California is top-ranked with some of the most innovative pediatric specialists in the world who work relentlessly to provide the best possible outcome