PARTNERSHIP WORKING WELL

Shriners Hospitals' alliance with Amtrak to provide free transportation to patients is a lifesaver for Temples

Thanks to an alliance that was established in late 2000 between Shriners Hospitals for Children and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), patients traveling to seven Shriners Hospitals west of the Mississippi River are able to take advantage of no-cost rail service.  One parent or guardian is also allowed to travel free of charge.

According to Imperial Sir Gene Bracewell, the Shrine's Imperial Treasurer, who was involved with working out the partnership with Cyndi Darlington, Amtrak Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, the alliance involves the Northern California, Los Angeles, Portland and Spokane Shriners Hospitals on the west coast, as well as the Intermountain, Houston and Galveston hospitals.

When asked about the benefits of this partnership, Charles A. "Tad" Claypool, the Shrine's Imperial Potentate, said, "It is clear that such an alliance offered extraordinary potential as an option for patient transportation.  This agreement came at a time when our Temples were faced with paying high transportation costs in their efforts to get many of our patients to our hospitals.  Amtrak has definitely helped to alleviate a rather serious situation for us."

During the first year of the program's operation, an average of about 125 patients and parents/guardians per month were being transported free of charge by Amtrak to Shriners Hospitals for both in-patient care and outpatient clinic visits.

Though each of the hospitals has an Amtrak transportation coordinator, Claudia Barrientos of the Northern California Shriners Hospital serves as the regional coordinator to ensure that the program operates as smoothly and efficiently as possible,  "I've been involved with the program from the very beginning and I can honestly say that things have been going along very well so far.  The Amtrak personnel are excellent to work with and they have done a fine job in helping to transport our patients to the various Shriners Hospitals."

Barrientos added that a majority of the patients have come from Mexico and are transported from San Diego by Amtrak to our Los Angeles and Northern California hospitals.  "We have had nothing but tremendous cooperation in getting these Mexican patients to their destinations, thanks in large part to the folks at Amtrak," she said.

"What started as a pilot program in July 2000, affection only the four west coast Shriners Hospitals, was expanded in July 2001, to include the three Shriners Hospitals in Salt Lake City, Houston and Galveston," said Susan Ciaudelli, Amtrak Administrative Manager of Sales and Marketing.

"In addition to transporting patients, we would like to see Shrine fraternity members and their families take advantage of our extensive national rail system with our offer of special discounts when traveling to meetings and conventions.  Since our affiliation with Shriners Hospitals, we are delighted to be a part of what Shriners are doing to help children," Ciaudelli remarked.  For further information on special Amtrak fares, please contact Ciaudelli at (510) 238-2688.

Plans are under way to expand this program to the Midwest by year-end 2003, and to the entire United States sometime in the future.  Because plans are indefinite, Shriners can help to preserve this valuable partnership by utilizing Amtrak for their travel needs.  Referring to the alliance, Claypool said, "Clearly, this kind of generosity on Amtrak's part will work to assure our fraternity's continued success in meeting the needs of children in our communities."