Good option for packaging medications for camp?

[maryen]

Hi- I could use some advice. I help out( not as a nurse) at a summer camp my daughter attends in California. It is a camp for young adults with special needs. Most of the campers take many medications- it's not uncommon for some to have 8-10 different meds plus other treatments. The camp nurse is looking for a service that parents can use prior to coming to camp to have all meds pre packed in the bubble packs with correct dose/time/ day to take. Does anybody have any suggestions of a good one to use in California?

Thank you so much.

[CampNurse1]

Remember to keep being a nurse. A couple of summers ago, one of my nurses discovered errors in the blister packs! One thing I like about the very tedious job of pulling meds is you are checking and knowing what you are administering. One can easily get into "zombie mode" when punching blisters.

A surprising number of privately owned pharmacies will blister or roll pack. The big chains will not. Some do not charge for it if you politely explain it is special needs or some other charity. Others will charge $5 - $10. Give them a couple of days to do it. The suggestion to check nursing homes is excellent.

Compliance is another matter. Some camp directors are strict about compliance, others make exceptions for everyone.

[DeniseFLA]

We are going to to have Campmeds for the first time this summer. Does any one have access to the documents that are sent out to the the parents from your camp? The original from Dana, Campmeds are so wordy. I am trying to simplify the documents and influence the parents the best I can in seeing how important this new system is for handling meds. Thanks!

[zzisaac]

The camp I work at serves over 1200 campers all summer (not all at one time!) but it is very complex, with a 2 week, 4 week, and 8 week option. We use CampMeds and I highly recommend them. We ask the meds to be there 4-5 days prior to the campers so that we can get it all set up - and they send the MARS as well and we do use them. There are, on rare occasion, a mistake so we ALWAYS double check the roll of meds that comes against every MAR as well as the parent request that is included. They have been great at fixing any problems in a timely fashion.

I definitely recommend if you purchase any blister packs to package yourself, that you know the laws in the state. Most state pharmacy laws prevent nurses from doing this without pharmacy oversight, as it is considered 'dispensing' or something like that.

[DeniseFLA]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[ohiobobcat]

I work at a camp for adults and children with developmental and physical disabilities. We have 7 sessions and campers are only with us for 6 days.

Last year was my 1st year working there. Med administration was a mess last year, but the system they had was already in place from previous years when I started there. This year, we sent out a letter to campers in November telling them that they will not be allowed to sign in the first day of camp unless their meds are blister-packed by a pharmacy of their choosing.

It will be interesting to see how many campers will come on opening day with meds packaged the proper way, because this is a huge change from how things have been done in the past.

[tining, BSN, RN]

If parents or camp do not want to use CampMeds or other medication services, I found these baggies on Amazon 50 for $6. Depending on how you like it parent can provide and you package when they get there or let the parent do the work. I think I would rather have the bottle and fill the bags when camper gets there to ensure labeling and the med is what the bottle states. The baggies are actually smaller than pictured! (Not sure why the picture posted twice...)

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

We go an order of these and use them for when our MD orders antibiotics. They are awesome, if my director said no camp meds I would do these myself or if that's not legal in you state ship them to the parents and have them take them to their home pharmacy. They are a whopping 35 cents each. If you what to google other options you looking for a 31 day cold seal blister pack card.

1-Piece Cold Seal Blister Pill Card | Pharmacy Automation Supplies