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Bay
Cliff Health Camp benefits from broadband technology
A partnership with Marquette General Health System has brought wireless
broadband technology to Bay
Cliff Health Camp. “This initiative created the infrastructure
for enhanced access to medical care for campers and staff, and brought
new operational efficiencies beginning with Internet communication
and professional development,” states Tim Bennett camp director.
Thank you SBC
Communication and UGLETI
for funding this project! Thanks also to MGHS, Tandberg, Inc., Range
Telecommunications, and anonymous individuals for providing matching
funds.
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Joining the
Bay Cliff campers in the “wire cutting” were Randy Johnson,
MD Chair of the Bay Cliff Board, Sally Davis, Program Director for
Telehealth at MGHS, Andrew Bek, Executive Director of UGLETI, US
Congressman Bart Stupak, and camp director Tim Bennett.
Technology had been under developed at Bay Cliff Health Camp prior
to this initiative. The board’s vision of emotional and physical
independence in disabled children had led them to create a summer
camp environment that provides a retreat from the busyness of the
outside world. The retreat atmosphere allows campers to focus on
important therapy goals and life skills. During a major reconstruction
project, the board acknowledged that a balanced use of technology
holds the potential to enhance their mission and assist in administrative
efficiencies.
The technology design for this project required the installation
of high speed (T-1) access between Bay Cliff and it’s partner
Marquette General Health System (MGHS). This connection brought
Bay Cliff into the Upper Peninsula Health Information. Bay Cliff’s
early applications will include Internet Access, Lotus Notes email,
video conferenced staff education, and telemedicine. Future applications
may include web hosting, laboratory results reporting, physician
billing, knowledge-based resources and many more.
Bringing the technology to the point-of-service created some challenges
due to the large multi-building campus and absence of network infrastructure
between buildings. An omni-directional antenna within the administration
building provides wireless connectivity to the administrative offices,
conference room and the medical and dental clinics.
A wireless telemedicine system was placed in the building that houses
the medical and dental clinics. Because of its mobility and wireless
capabilities, the system is easily moved between the clinics to
accommodate camper and staff needs. Wireless connectivity within
the administrative building allows for Internet access and administrative
and educational video conferencing.
Bay Cliff is
a non-profit summer health camp for children with severe orthopedic,
speech, hearing and vision disabilities. The primary mission of
Bay Cliff is to improve the lives of children with physical disabilities.
The priority program is a two-month intensive program of daily therapy
and traditional camp activities where children learn to become more
independent and are inspired to believe in themselves and their
potential.
Bay Cliff Health Camp is located on Lake Superior, near Big Bay
in Marquette County. The 165-acre camp serves 180 children each
summer and, since it was founded, almost 11,000 children have benefited
from this unique experience. The camp began in 1934 as a care center
for undernourished and underprivileged children. The present focus
on therapy evolved over the years as children with diabetes, polio,
orthopedic impairments, cardiac disease, speech and hearing disabilities
were accepted. Generous contributions from service clubs, organizations,
businesses, foundations, industry, and individuals assure that children
can attend camp without charge. Physicians, dentists and other health
professionals donate their time to treat the campers and staff.
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