The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49636

Charmaine Fitzig, RN, DrPH, Clinical Affairs, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, 125 Worth Street, Room 427, New York, NY 10013, 212 788-3397, dungcac@nychhc.org, Consuelo Dungca, RN, EdD, Office of Clinical Affairs, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, Office of Clinical Affairs, Central Office, 125 Worth Street , Suite 427, New York, NY 10013, and Evelyn G. Borges, CHES, Bellevue Hospital Center, NYC Health and Hospitals Corp, New York, NY 10016.

Learning Objectives: Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization for New York City’s children and communities (mostly indigent, minorities, undocumented and vulnerable populations) served by the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation’s (HHC’s) facilities. Presently, asthma is the top pediatric and one of the top ten adult admission diagnoses. Treatment for asthma accounts for 12% of outpatient pediatric visits. To supplement HHC’s Asthma Initiative that was started in 2000, several vans were donated by civic groups and HHC’s Board of Directors to reach specific communities served by each hospital and increase the public’s awareness of asthma. This is accomplished by offering health and asthma information, health education and referrals to primary providers. The asthma vans are in the communities 2 to 3 days per week at different locations. The vans are equipped with computers with a direct link to the hospital to make appropriate referrals; availability of patient education materials in several languages both written and videos; and asthma equipment (spacers and peak flow meters) for demonstration. Staffing includes a registered nurse or health educator, a clerk and a driver. ___________________________________________________ 2-Page Summary BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects both children and adults of all ages; and if appropriately managed, it can be controlled without complications. The basic features of asthma include inflammation of the lining of the airways, temporary blocking of air flow by the tightening of muscles around the airways, and increased mucous production that leads to difficulty in breathing. In addition, there is increased sensitivity of the airways to a variety of triggers that cause difficulty in breathing. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the presentation, the participants will be able to
(
• identify innovative strategies to increase awareness of asthma in communities; (
• increase the number of asthma patients seen in clinics instead of the emergency rooms; (
• describe effective system to assist the public control their asthma condition. METHODS
  The NYCHHC started community outreach efforts to supplement the asthma initiative programs at the 11 acute care hospitals and 6 Diagnostic and Treatment Centers. A two-day “Train the Trainer” workshop was implemented to teach teams of physicians, nurses and health educators asthma management for children. These providers trained other providers in asthma management in their facilities to ensure patients received the best care based on the NIH Asthma best practice guidelines. The community outreach efforts were part of the whole asthma initiative. The HHC secured 12 vans donated to visit several locations within each hospital’s catchment area to increase the community’s awareness of asthma. The vans are attractively painted with HHC’s logo, “Better than Ever” and has the name of the acute care hospital. The vans’ personnel provide asthma education to schools, daycare centers, shelters and other community-based organizations as well as make referrals to the hospitals. HHC is the largest municipal hospital system in the United States. In CY 2000, facilities provided health services to approximately 1.5 million New Yorkers. RESULTS
  Each van coordinator administers an asthma questionnaire, makes appropriate referrals to the community’s hospital and maintains statistical information on a form that includes, number of visits, location, community group, referrals to the hospital and others. Monthly statistics are sent to HHC’s central office for analysis, comparison and tabulation. Statistics from September to December 2001, indicated that the vans visited a total of 349 locations and participated in 43 different health fairs. Of the total number of individuals visiting the van, 4214 completed asthma questionnaires, 5695 received asthma education, and 905 individuals were referred to a primary health care provider. CONCLUSION
  Through the use of multiple vans in each hospital’s catchment area, NYC’s Health and Hospitals Corporation has increased the awareness of asthma within communities, and has encouraged many individuals to begin and/or return to their primary care providers for asthma management.

  Keywords: Asthma, Access to Health Care

  Presenting author's disclosure statement:
  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.

  Children's Environmental Health: Childhood Asthma - Surveillance, Exposure, Innovative Community Outreach and Lessons Learned

  The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA