Type 1 Residence Camp

Camp Medical Program

Camp Ho Mita Koda strives to make each child’s experience at camp safe, fun, and memorable. We understand that diabetes presents unique challenges for each child, and is dramatically affected by activity. Therefore, diabetes management at camp is usually different than diabetes management at home. Our medical staff is dedicated to providing campers with the support, knowledge and skills necessary to optimize their diabetes management.

Senior Medical and Dispensary Staff:

The Senior Medical Staff of Camp Ho Mita Koda directs all clinical diabetes management activities at camp. The Staff is comprised of experienced physicians and diabetes specialists from Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, MetroHealth Medical Center, and other area medical facilities. Each camper meets with a physician during camper check-in to provide their current medical history and to establish the insulin regimes that will be used at camp. A member of the Senior Medical Staff visits camp every day to review current care plans with dispensary staff, and are always on call to assist in decision making involving camper medical care.

One or more Resident Physicians are in residence at camp during most sessions. When a resident is not available during a session, or is temporarily away from camp, a member of the Senior Medical Staff is on call and constantly in contact with the dispensary staff.

The dispensary staff manages day-to-day insulin administration activities and responds to the medical needs of the campers. The dispensary staff and/or a camp physician is available 24 hours a day. Emergency ambulance services are available and Geauga Hospital is less than 10 minutes away from Camp Ho Mita Koda.

Camp Medical Program:

Each camper parent/guardian will receive both a Medical History form and Diet History form prior to arriving at camp. It is very important that camp staff have current information on each camper’s “home diabetes” regimen. These forms must be completed prior to arrival at camp. Both forms will be reviewed with the parent and camper during check-in. Questions should be directed to the medical or dietetic staff at that time.

One of the primary goals related to diabetes management at camp is to balance insulin dosage with activity level and food intake so that blood glucose levels remain in a safe range, especially with respect to the prevention of hypoglycemia. While we attempt to follow your home routines as closely as possible, adjustments to insulin doses are usually necessary to ensure the safety of your child. For example, many activities at camp require an increased level of physical activity compared to what a child may typically be engaged in at home. Insulin requirements may change. Accordingly, when campers go home, the reverse may happen. Parents/guardians will be provided with a copy of their camper’s diabetes records at check-out so that they and their physician will have this information in order to make adjustments at home.

Blood glucose testing is an important part of every camp day. Testing is scheduled 4 times each day and campers may test more frequently as necessary. Blood glucose monitoring supplies are available in the camp dispensary, at each activity site and in each cabin. Results are recorded.

Finally, every effort is made to ensure campers’ health and safety. However, if an unforeseen medical event occurs, the Camp will contact the parent(s) as soon as possible within 8 hours after the following incidents: glucagon administration (for severe hypoglycemia), ER visit or hospitalization, allegations of abuse, seizure, any ‘red phone’ medical call from cabin to dispensary, or medical error. Please ensure that Camp has accurate parent/guardian 24/7 contact information.

Diabetes Supplies and Other Medicines:

Camp is privileged to provide campers necessary supplies to manage their diabetes while at camp. Supplies include insulin, syringes, blood glucose meters, lancets, blood glucose meter strips, alcohol swabs and glucose tablets. Children need not bring their own supplies or equipment to camp unless they are using an insulin pump. If a camper is using an insulin pump, please review the insulin pump policy (33 KB Acrobat .PDF file) and complete the "pumper" form.

If your child is under current treatment for an illness or condition other than diabetes and is taking other prescription or over-the-counter medication, please bring treatment instructions and an adequate supply of the medication(s) to camp and give it to the medical staff during the camper’s arrival interview. The medical staff will supervise/administer the medication and ensure adherence to the prescribed treatment.

Diabetes Education:

The camp setting is an optimal environment for campers to gain valuable knowledge and skills to improve their diabetes management. Diabetes education is integrated in all camp programming and takes advantage of many “teachable moments.” The primary educational goals of Camp Ho Mita Koda result in the development of lifelong wellness habits. Camp Ho Mita Koda strives to support, encourage and teach diabetes management skills in a fun, interactive and age-appropriate manner. Our diabetes education goals at camp are as follows:

• Campers will learn new skills and reinforce existing knowledge through planned participatory activities, observation, and individual and group instruction. Such activities may include swimming, boating, hiking, archery, climbing, and team building.
• Nutrition education will be offered as an elective activity at least one activity period each day.
• Diabetes education will be offered as an elective activity at least one activity period each day.
• Carb counting will be taught and reinforced at all meals and snacks. Grams of carbs will be used to determine overall carb servings.
• Campers will develop a sense of environmental awareness through interaction with the natural environment.
• Campers will improve self confidence, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution skills through the camp experience.

Authority and Payment for Medical Care:

Medical services, diabetes supplies and medicines provided at Camp Ho Mita Koda by the camp’s medical/dispensary staff are available at no charge to campers. The Camp, however, does not provide health insurance benefits for campers and is not responsible for payments to ambulances, hospital/ambulatory care facilities, physicians or other medical care provided off-site and/or by medical personnel other than camp staff members, resident physicians in training at camp, and members of the camp's volunteer senior medical staff on duty.

The Parental Permission for Medical Treatment of a Minor form gives your authorization for treatment in the event an illness or injury requires hospital or emergency room care. In the event of any illness or injury involving evaluation or treatment in an emergency room or hospital, the camp medical staff will notify you. The Medical Insurance Information section of this form indicates your agreement to be responsible for medical charges if there is a need to engage outside medical services (an ambulance, emergency room, hospital and related care). In these circumstances, the family assumes responsibility for all costs.