The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66957

James Stout, MD, MPH, Child Health Institute, University of Washington, Box 354920, Seattle, WA 98195-4920, (206) 616-9411, jstout@u.washington.edu

The prevalence and morbidity of asthma are growing problems that appear to affect urban populations and particularly impoverished centers disproportionately. Poor children are more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than nonpoor children, and are more likely to experience clinical and social dysfunction due to asthma. While guidelines exist for best care of childhood asthma, the neediest children are least likely to encounter the benefits of these recommendations. The Asthma Outreach Project based at the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic in Seattle, WA aims to reverse the trend of children being negatively impacted by asthma. The Asthma Outreach Project emphasizes home visits by a community-based, lay outreach worker in collaboration with an interdisciplinary clinic-based team. In the clinic setting, the community health worker functions as a case manager. The clinic uses a process of care involving an asthma registry with periodic assessment and monitoring at routinely scheduled visits. With the implementation of the Asthma Outreach Project, specific asthma risk factors are addressed. These modifiable risk factors include 1) poor coordination and follow-up between hospitals, emergency rooms, and primary care practices; 2) inadequate access to comprehensive and high quality medical care, and poor adherence to current guidelines by medical providers; 3) patients beliefs and understanding regarding asthma that are inconsistent with current best management practices; 4) suboptimal family function and living circumstances that undermine adherence to organized home asthma management plans; 5) patient exposure to indoor environmental allergens and irritants. Since 1995 the Asthma Outreach Project has delivered planned, population-based care based on the best available clinical evidence, adapting the Chronic Care model developed by Ed Wagner through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded program for improving chronic illness care.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe the elements of Wagner’s Chronic Care Model
• Describe the role of a Community Health Worker as case manager for childhood asthma management.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This abstract is part of a panel presentation. The other authors are Mary Beth Love (ID# 66845 and Password 685282), Shannon Thyne (ID# 66909 and Password 261600), Guillermo Mendoza, MD (ID#66999 and Password 613409), and Kathy Graham (ID#67049 and Passw
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
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