Health, Medication, Care and Insurance

Health Center: As part of tuition, campers are cared for by a team of professionals (Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioner and Pediatrician) that constitute the Wyonegonic Health Center team. They are also involved with regular health screenings, COVID-19 mitigation, COVID-19 testing, and isolation protocols. Nurses follow written standing orders from the local area camp primary physician group affiliated with nearby Bridgton Hospital. Health Center Staff assess and dispense medication from the approved inventory. They are responsible for risk management planning, primary care of injuries, dispensing of daily prescription (RX) medications, and preparations and briefing for our Trip Leaders. They follow the accreditation standards of the American Camp Association (ACA) for Health and Wellness and Maine State Health regulations.  

Health Insurance: Pre-existing conditions, prescribed medications and accidents fall under the responsibility of the family medical insurance policy.  It is required that we have appropriate details of your camper’s health insurance policy on file in the Wyonegonic Health Center for our use as needed. You must provide a copy of both sides of your policy health card. You may mail this to us or scan and upload into your CampInTouch/Parent Login. 

Health Forms: State Health regulations and ACA accreditation standards require that all residents in camp have a health history on file. 

  • The Health History is completed annually online via your Parent Login/CampInTouch account. 
  • A Primary Care Physician Physical Exam:
    • Required annually if your camper has prescribed RX medications or daily OTC. The signed physician form is also required for any conditions requiring treatment, special restrictions or considerations while at camp. 
    • The Primary Care Physician physical exam is required within two years if your camper does not have medications or restrictions noted above. 
    • A physical exam form is available for download so that you have the option to take the form to your Primary Care Physician for completion or you can upload a standardized physical exam form from your physician’s office. Please complete and submit this form by May 25th.
  • Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Health information is a crucial part of  the health history form. Transparency is expected regarding mental health history, social or emotional behavioral concerns, support systems, and your camper’s current coping strategies. Collaboration is essential between camp, families, and therapists/pediatricians for the camper to have the best possible experience at camp.
  • All medical forms and health information is held in confidence by the Health Center Team/Camp Directors. 

Immunizations Records

  • Up to date COVID-19 vaccination is encouraged for all campers and staff members
  • Documented last date of Tetanus/Pertussis is required by State of Maine regulations.
  • All other immunizations based upon CDC schedule for the camper’s age and pediatrican’s advice are encouraged. Any member of the camp resident community without immunization needs to be documented as such. 
  • Immunization records can be uploaded in your Parent Login/CampInTouch Account and entered in your Health History.

COVID-19 Practices: Our COVID-19 multi-layered prevention and mitigation strategy is a flexible plan. Up to date Wyonegonic policy regarding COVID-19 practices can be viewed at Wyonegonic.com/about-us/covid-practices/.

Arrival Health Screening: 

  • Camper check in will include time for a health screening, discussion of recent health, review of medications and opportunity for parents/guardians to visit with Health Center Staff.
  • Please inform us if your child has been diagnosed with any communicable disease at any point during the previous year.  It is especially critical to update camp health center staff  with any new information that has occurred after the camper’s health form was submitted. 
  • Please inform us if your child has been exposed to head lice so that we may check and monitor them discreetly. If your camper arrives at camp with lice, without our prior knowledge, all associated expenses for necessary treatment will be charged to the family.

Communication to Parents: It is camp policy to inform the parent/guardian in the following instances.

  • Any accident or illness that requires a visit to a doctor
  • If your camper requires an overnight stay in the Wyonegonic Health Center.
  • Mental health or behavioral concerns, especially those that interfere with the camper’s experience or the experience of others. Partnering with parents is often the first appropriate course of action. 
  • In the case of COVID-19 presumed positive, clinically diagnosed, or positive test results.

Medications:  

  • Must come with clear instructions in English stating the name of the child, dose and schedule must be in an original labeled container. Modified packaging and/or repackaged medications will not be accepted nor administered. 
  • Are not permitted in camper possession or stored in camper cabins; but stored in the Health Center and administered by Health Center staff or designee. 
  • Will be collected on arrival day and reviewed with a Camp Nurse.  
  • Dispensing requirements for daily RX, OTC and as needed medication or homeopathic treatment must be included on the signed physician exam form including medication orders on or attached to the form. 

Rescue inhalers (albuterol, Ventolin etc) or Epinephrine Auto-injectors: Most campers are in the category of not needing to “self carry” but do need to have access to rescue medication. The health center will collect the medication at arrival check-in and hold it in a secure location in the event there is a need. Those campers needing to “self-carry” (carry rescue meds with them at all times) require special forms which are required by Maine State Law. The camper or staff member who “self carries” must also demonstrate the ability to self administer with one of the members of the Health center team.  Contact the camp office to receive the authorization form for completion. In this scenario, bring no less than two (one for your camper and one for the Health Center). 

Hospital: Our nurses follow standing orders from the Bridgton Hospital Group under the Central Maine Medical Family of Hospitals and Physicians. The hospital is located 6 miles from camp. Additionally, there are three walk-in ready care clinics located within 30 minutes of Camp. We use the Bridgton Hospital Emergency Room if needed and Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston or as directed for crisis care. In the event the parent cannot be reached, it is understood by the electronic signing of the health form in your Parent Login/CampInTouch account, that the directors and the camp nurses have the authority to act upon the recommendation of an attending physician in case of medical treatment or surgical necessity. 

Health Preparation Tips from the Experts:

A Healthy Camp Begins and Ends at Home

Alliance for Camp Health

Prevention and Care  – Your Child’s Health at Camp 

by Linda Ebner Erceg, RN, MS, PHN