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

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

4056.0: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - Board 9

Abstract #69062

YES WE CAN's children's asthma program: A medical/social team model for prevention based chronic disease care

Vicki Legion, Community Health Works of SF/YES WE CAN, San Francisco State University, Department of Health Education, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, 415-338-3480, vlegion@sfsu.edu

The YES WE CAN Care pathway poster describes a medical/social team model that aims to scale-up best practices and reduces medical system barriers for low-income children with asthma. The distinguishing feature is a multi-disciplinary team combining the clinician, a nurse care coordinator, and a community health worker from the family’s own community. This assures early intervention, close follow-up cultural competence and real support for home self-management. The approach has been developed by and for community based and public health clinics serving culturally and linguistically diverse, low-income communities. YES WE CAN is a blend of best practices. The model brings together tested best practices from Community Health Works of San Francisco, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, the Child Health Institute/University of Washington/Asthma Outreach Project, the YES WE CAN Urban Asthma Partnership and demonstration clinics. Two new asthma cluster clinics were set up at community-based clinics, and a hospital-based children's asthma clinic increased its numbers served. Intermediate measures of quality of care rose, and preliminary results indicate that rates of hospitalization and emergency department use dropped sharply. A culturally competent team approach has been disseminated effectively in an urban safety net setting.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment

Medical Care Section Poster Session #1

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