Shriners Hospital for Children Named Top 10 Pediatric Orthopedic Hospitals in Nation

Think Shriners Hospital for Children physicians are the dedicated sort? There’s a case study that is proof positive.

The chief of staff at the hospital, Dr. Perry L. Schoenecker is at work at the facility in Frontenac often hosting 6 a.m. meetings, and is regularly last out the door, well past 6 p.m. many evenings.

Still, Schoenecker has to balance his life between work, family and other duties, such as the thankless chore of cutting his lawn. He built a reputation in idyllic Kirkwood, mowing his grass well past dark.  He would pull his car up to the lawn and work under the beam of the headlights. The City of Kirkwood adopted the “Shoenecker Ordinance,” prohibiting homeowners from cutting their yards past dark.

All that dedication has dividends. A team of physicians, the likes of Schoenecker; Lawrence M. Lenke, spine surgery; Matthew Dobbs, spine surgery; Keith Bridwell, spine surgery; and Michael White, medical/scientific director are primary sources for the the hospital being named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 pediatric orthopedic hospitals in the U.S.

Glasses were raised all around when that announcement went out Thursday.

John Gloss, chief administrative officer for Shriners couldn’t hold back his pride. “We are proud to be recognized as a part of this excellent continuum of orthopedic care with our partners at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine.” Gloss said. “We are grateful that that St. Louis Children’s Hospital invited us to participate in the pediatric orthopedic portion of their survey.”

Shriners is one of 22 regional centers spread out across the U.S., Canada and Mexico serving children in the those countries and around the world. No patients have ever had to pay for their care with Shriners, though recently, they have entered into agreements with third-party paying health providers when applicable.

This recognition is based primarily on a host of data and surgical outcomes. The quality of care through careful survey work indicates that Shriners is one of the highest ranking surgical providers anywhere.

Most Shriners surgeons come from the Barnes Jewish Medical Center and the Washington University School of Medicine. By their nature, this team of physicians is dedicated to both research and academics. These are the doctors who teach the doctors. The book on back surgery must be 500 pages long and was written by Dr. Bridwell.

“We are grateful for all of this wonderful talent from Washington University,” Gloss said. Their projects are interesting, varied and very rewarding. For instance, Dr. Dobbs does genetic mapping for clubbed feet for children. “Believe me, its not about (making) the money for these guys,” said Gloss.

Shriners Hospital averages 10 surgical procedures per day; doing about 1,200 procedures per year. The unit in St. Louis in particular represents nine states; 21 clubs and Shriner units. The volunteer support by Shriners members is tremendous.  Shrine volunteers provide all the transportation and logistics to keep patients moving to and from their homes.

The rankings were determined through an intricate process. U.S. News & World Report invited 177 pediatric centers to complete a 95-page survey, which included across-the-board questions about nurse-to-patient ratio, and the infection-reduction measures, as well as more specific data, such as pediatric orthopedics.

And about Dr. Schoenecker and his late-night trimming escapades at his homestead in Kirkwood?

For Halloween, members of the Shriners administrative staff dressed as Shoenecker Lawn Service employees, hardhats, coveralls and all. The good doctor took it all in good nature and in stride.

Now that’s real dedication.