Session: Children’s Environmental Health & Vulnerable Populations - Improve the Quality of Asthma Care – Stressing Environmental Management of Asthma
3270.0: Monday, November 17, 2003: 2:30 PM-4:00 PM
Oral
Children’s Environmental Health & Vulnerable Populations - Improve the Quality of Asthma Care – Stressing Environmental Management of Asthma
Asthma is a serious, chronic respiratory disease affecting approximately 15 million Americans. Each year asthma causes 2 million visits to the emergency room and $14 billion in asthma-related costs. Asthma disproportionately impacts African-Americans and certain Hispanic populations and appears to be particularly severe in urban inner cities. In fact, it is estimated that as of 1996, 1/3 of children covered by Medicaid suffered from asthma. Often, children disproportionately impacted by asthma are reported to have higher hospitalization and emergency room utilization rates raising the question of their ability to access high quality health care. While asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled through medical treatment and environmental management of asthma triggers, such as secondhand smoke and indoor allergens—including cockroaches, dust mites, animal dander, and mold. Public health professionals and others are confronted with the challenge of providing a high level of quality care to asthma patients while grappling with shrinking state and locally funded health care systems. Comprehensive asthma management programs that incorporate medical and environmental management of asthma have proven to be an effective strategy in improving the quality of care for asthma patients. Specifically, in-home asthma intervention programs provide asthma patients and their parents/caregivers with the necessary skills, education, personal interaction and resources to effectively and comprehensively manage their asthma. Through partnerships with government agencies and non-profit organizations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made a conscious effort to address the needs of traditionally underserved populations that suffer from asthma. This presentation will highlight successful and effective in-home asthma intervention programs offered by public health departments, health care providers and others. In addition, representatives from the U.S. EPA and other organizations will share information about available resources and effective strategies for implementing environmental management in the home.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the participants will: 1) understand the importance of environmental management of asthma as a component of comprehensive asthma management programs, 2) recognize the effectiveness of providing home visits and personal interaction in meeting the needs of disproportionately impacted populations, and 3) identify methods for achieving effective in-home environmental asthma education and management strategies.
See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information.
Organizer(s):Rebecca Love
Robyn Gilden, RN, MS
Kevin Delaney, MPH
Wendy J. Blumenthal, MPH
Laureen Burton
Kevin McNally, MBA
Moderator(s):Kara Miller
2:30 PMImproving clinical and environmental outcomes in minority, underserved asthmatic children from Community/Migrant Health Centers (C/MHC) in NY, NJ, PA, MO, PR, and VI
Diana S. Catz, PhD, MPH
2:45 PMIn-Home Asthma Intervention Program: San Francisco Department of Public Health
Sheila Brown
3:00 PMYES WE CAN Children's Asthma Program: A Medical/Social Team Model for Prevention-Based Chronic Care
Kara Miller, Vicki Legion
3:15 PMEffectiveness of collaboration in improving asthma management outcomes in young children
Paul L. Cummings, MPH, Kelley Meade, MD
3:30 PMClean Air for Kids: A community outreach and education program to improve asthma health
Janet Primomo, PhD, RN, Frank DiBiase, MA, BS, Leanne Noren, BA
3:45 PMDiscussion
Organized by:Environment
Endorsed by:Community Health Planning and Policy Development; Latino Caucus; Maternal and Child Health; School Health Education and Services
CE Credits:CME, Environmental Health, Health Education (CHES), Nursing, Pharmacy

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