Purpose: Managing asthma in inner-city children is a complex task. The Community Asthma Management Program (CAMP) is a demonstration program that seeks to improve the health status and quality of life of these high-risk children. Methods: CAMP is a collaborative project of Lehigh Valley and Sacred Heart Hospitals, the Allentown School District, and local philanthropic, public and private agencies. CAMP includes three components: comprehensive nurse case management that integrates the family, school system, and physicians; intensive individualized asthma education, including regular phone calls and home visits; and environmental interventions based on in-home assessments. Evaluation uses periodic surveys, self-reports, and utilization data. Results: Twelve families, with children aged 8 – 14 years, are currently enrolled in CAMP. Since enrollment, we have found: increased use of peak flow meters; better understanding of both the disease process and treatment plans; more reliable use of preventive medicines; a higher percentage of acute episodes managed at home without a visit to the emergency room. Although regression to the mean cannot be excluded, these children have had fewer hospitalizations per year in the 9 month study period than in the previous 18 or 24 months, and peak flow values have increased. Parent and child self-confidence has increased during the study period. We will demonstrate these findings in detail. Conclusion: Intensive case management can improve process and outcome measures for inner-city children with asthma. Further study is needed to identify the specific ‘active ingredients’ in case management and the threshold ‘dose’ to achieve these findings.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Asthma, Case Management
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.