INTEGRIS Health Corporate Communications: Camp Endres

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INTEGRIS Health Responds to Nursing Shortage at Camp Endres: A Summer Camp for Kids with Diabetes

July 24, 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY - For children living with diabetes, learning to balance insulin, activity and food is the formula for success. Camp Endres has been teaching kids how to take control of their disease since 1999.

But recently, due to a lack of funding and staff, Camp Endres has had to shorten the camp by one day and reduce the number of campers who can attend from 150 to 130.

Part of the problem has been finding the proper staff. Since the nurses are volunteers and therefore unpaid, it has been difficult to maintain the desired staff-to-camper ratio. Many nurses want to volunteer their time and talents to the cause but simply can’t afford to take a week off from work.

In response, INTEGRIS Health is allowing two nurses to participate in this year’s camp without financial penalty. They will be paid their regular salary for the entire week they are away.

“INTEGRIS has long focused on traditional leadership in diabetes care, “says Stanley Hupfeld, president and CEO of INTEGRIS Health. “We fully support and applaud the Camp Endres effort and encourage other organizations to do the same, whether it be through personnel or funding.”

The Camp Endres philosophy is a little different from what you would find at the typical diabetes camp. Instead of putting aside their insulin pumps and taking a week-long “vacation” from their disease, Camp Endres campers learn how to make responsible choices without sacrificing fun.

They are fed family style meals and have to learn how to manage their food and insulin intake on their own. The camp medical staff helps monitor individual meal plans and many of the counselors are former campers who have diabetes themselves. The hope is that these children will take what they learn at camp and apply it to their everyday lives once they leave.

Camp Endres has been so successful that campers have come from other states and even other countries to try this unique approach. INTEGRIS Health is proud to be associated with such a fine organization.

Camp Endres
Sunday, July 29, through Saturday, August 4
YMCA Camp Classen
Davis, Oklahoma
(405) 843-4386

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3030 N.W. Expressway
Suite 1620
Oklahoma City, 73112

(405) 951-4826