Medical and Surgical Camps
Accessing medical services for children with developmental disabilities living in rural communities presents many access barriers and limitations for families. Distance from medical centres, transportation costs and time requirements often prohibit access to much needed specialty medical services for children with disabilities. Enabling access to free specialty medical services is essential for the well-being of children with developmental disabilities.
The objectives of this program are to:
- Identify the medical needs of children with developmental disabilities for referral to medical specialists
- Establish a free multidisciplinary medical camp for rural children with developmental disabilities
- Monitor referrals for further medical investigations, surgery, prescriptions for medication, supportive and assistive devices.
Children are first assessed by rehabilitation specialists of the EI program through a Medical and Surgical Needs Assessment Referral System identifying the type of medical specialty required. A medical consultation list is established one week before the free medical camp by the EI specialists, children are scheduled to attend, and families contacted. Every medical specialist in the camp is accompanied by an EI program specialist when seeing the children. Medical specialists assess and prescribe medication, provide referrals for further investigations and arrange for surgeries at regional hospitals.
Consultations occur in-person and via tele-medicine consults. The number of children assessed by different specialists are listed below:
