Spfld. Shriners Hospital to stay open

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's official, the Shriners Hospital of Springfield will remain open, but some changes are in store for the hospital.

The Shriners made the official announcement Thursday night.

The hospital known for treating children free of charge is making some payment changes. The downturn in the economy is prompting Shriners Hospitals for Children to start accepting payments from insurance companies and the government.

Patients will not have to pay for their care. There is still no word on whether or not the Springfield hospital will be downsized, some of the smaller Shriners facilities across the country may be.

"So some of our facilities may become more of a day surgical, ambulatory center where we then take the children that need a stay to one of our larger hospitals," said Douglas Maxwell, Shriners Hospital.

The Shriners Hospitals' operating fund has lost three billion dollars in less than a year.