Michelle G. Roy, PA-CTexas Children's HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery

The Positive Impact of an Annual Camp for Patients with a Cleft and the Staff that Care

for Them

Topic 1: Introduction to a Cleft

Topic 2: TCH Cleft Team

Topic 3: Development of a Cleft Camp

Topic 4: Camp Keep Smiling and Its Impact on Patients and Staff

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What is a Cleft• The most common birth difference

that occurs in the U.S. , 1 in every 600 newborns are affected by a cleft lip and/or cleft palate

• Cleft Lip- is a separation of the upper lip and underlying muscle

• Cleft Palate- is a opening of the roof of the mouth where the palate did not fuse in utero

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Timeline of Cleft Care

Cleft care is extensive- most patients need a minimum of 3 surgeries to complete repair of cleft

Topic 1: Introduction to a Cleft

Topic 2: TCH Cleft Team

Topic 3: Development of a Cleft Camp

Topic 4: Camp Keep Smiling and Its Impact on Patients and Staff

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TCH Cleft Team • At Texas Children's Hospital we have a multi-disciplinary

Craniofacial Team involved with each of our patients cleft care• At our cleft clinic families are able to meet with each specialist

during a single appointment. Our specialist involved in your child’s care include:– Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon– Otolaryngologist – Speech and Language Pathologist – Neuropsychologist – Genetics Counselor – Social Worker– Team of APPs

Topic 1: Introduction to a Cleft

Topic 2: TCH Cleft Team

Topic 3: Development of a Cleft Camp

Topic 4: Camp Keep Smiling and Its Impact on Patients and Staff

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Development of a Cleft Camp

• In 2014 a hospital funded annual not-for-profit camp was started for our patients affected by a cleft called Camp Keep Smiling by Dr. Laura Monson

• Patients from the ages of 10 to 16 are invited to travel for the weekend to Camp For All in Burton, Texas free of charge

• The goal of camp has been to foster a safe environment that allows our patients to gain self-confidence while having the opportunity to make friends with individuals going through similar life experiences

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Development of a Cleft Camp

https://abc13.com/health/unique-camp-gives-kids-something-extra-to-smile-about/1601482/

Topic 1: Introduction to a Cleft

Topic 2: TCH Cleft Team

Topic 3: Development of a Cleft Camp

Topic 4: Camp Keep Smiling and Its Impact on Patients and Staff

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Camp Keep Smiling 2018Campers participated in several activities to foster self-confidence

and teamwork:

Camp Keep Smiling and Its Impact on Patients and Staff

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Methods• To assess the impact Camp Keep Smiling has on our patients

and their families an online survey was disseminated one week following our spring 2018 camp asking about their experience

• Questions addressed included: likeliness of patient returning to camp in the future, likeliness of recommending camp to another family, and overall satisfaction with camp and our volunteers

• In addition, families were given the opportunity to comment on what specifically they liked or disliked about camp

• We had 19 families participate in the survey

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Camp Keep Smiling and Its Impact on Patients and Staff

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elpful

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elpful

Helpfulness of Camp Staff

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Likeliness to Return to Camp Keep Smiling

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Unlikely Neutral Likely Very Likely

Likeliness to Recommend Camp Keep Smiling to Other Families

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Camp’s Impact on Patients and Staff

“I love everything there, Camp Keep Smiling is just an amazing place. It is like our second home.”

“We are so grateful! My daughter loves to be around kids just like her. It builds her confidence and she feels known by who she is not because she looks

different.” “Seeing the campers arrive to check-in with already joyful and happy expressions make may day as a

volunteer. I can see they were looking forward to this awesome weekend with TCH Plastic Surgery. I realize

now that it really honors the name of Camp Keep Smiling. Congratulations to the whole team and dedicated individuals that make it a successful

event.” – TCH Staff

“We are so grateful! My daughter loves to be around kids just like her. It builds her confidence and she feels known by who she is not because she looks

different.”

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Conclusion• A majority of the respondents felt that camp had a positive

impact on their child and would allow them to return in the future

• In addition to camper experience, our practice found that camp not only impacts the patients but the staff that care for them

• We conclude that this correlation will not only increase patient and family satisfaction, but overall fulfillment of our staff