Medical Care
A critical and appropriate question asked by parents and campers concerns the availability and quality of the medical care at Camp. Excellent medical care is one of the cornerstones on which Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® was founded.Below are answers to parents’ and campers’ frequently asked Camp medical care questions:
Who provides the medical care at Camp?
Each session is staffed with an expert medical team. Every member of Camp’s medical team is a healthcare volunteer who donates time and expertise in support of Camp. Many of the medical staff volunteers return year after year. The medical staff includes a pediatric oncology doctor and a team of registered nurses. Frequently, our parents and campers find a doctor and/or nurse from their patient’s home hospital are members of our Camp healthcare team. This team supervises your child’s health and administers medical care and daily medications. They are available on-site, 24 hours a day, to attend to your child’s medical needs.
What are the medical care facilities like at Camp?
Camp is equipped with a state-of-the-art healthcare center, or what we call “The Med Shed,” specifically designed to serve the needs of our campers impacted by cancer. The Med Shed provides areas and equipment to support your child’s health needs while at Camp including an examination room, resting and sleeping areas, a medication dispensary and the Catheter Care Cabin. Should additional support be needed, transportation can be quickly arranged to nearby Loma Linda University Medical Center or the patient’s home hospital.
What medical information is needed about my child?
By now, you have signed up for a Camp session and received our multiple page application. Our medical staff carefully reviews every application and medical examination form prior to the session to ensure we have all the necessary equipment and support for your child’s needs. Therefore, we need all applications with current medical information at least 3 WEEKS before your session. If we need any additional information, we will contact you immediately.
To protect the privacy of our campers (patients, siblings and/or parents), Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® has adopted guidelines that restrict disclosure of personal health information to those who are responsible for medical treatment and care. This includes doctors, nurses and Camp health personnel. Limited health information may be given to campers’ counselors to enable them to best support your child’s healthcare needs.
How should I send my child’s medicines with them to Camp?
Winter and Summer Youth Camp: We ask campers to bring all medications and catheter care supplies they will need during their stay at Camp. All medicines should be in their original bottles. Please include any additional care instructions that can help us provide your child with a happy and healthy stay. At Pick-Up Day Registration, a Camp Staff member and Camp Nurse will record and collect all medications you send for your child. Our nurses will review your instructions for administering your child’s medication and care. Medications are dispensed daily at Camp, usually at meals or according to instructions.
Family Camp: We ask families to bring all medications and medical supplies they will need during their stay at Camp. We provide refrigeration for all medications that must be refrigerated. Parents are responsible for dispensing regular medications to their children. Should your child need additional medications, our Camp Doctor and Camp Nurse are available.
What happens if there is a medical emergency at Camp?
Should a medical emergency occur while your child is at Camp, our medical staff will first assess the situation and take the most appropriate course of action. We will call to notify you of the situation, and we will discuss with you with the steps we intend to take.
