Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114417

christine Rossi, BA, CRT, AE-C and CHRISTINE Rossi, BA, CRT, AE-C. Southern Maine Medical Center, 0ne Medical Center Drive, Biddeford, ME 04021, 207-283-6700, nid.cr@smmc.org

ASTHMA: MAKING THHE CONNECTION IN THE COMMUNITY

The state of Maine has some of the hightest rates of asthma in the nation. The total population of Maine is approximately 1.27 million people. It is estimated that 100, 000 people in Maine have asthma and 20,000 are children, under 18 years of age. Asthma is responsible for 50,000 lost school days. Maine currently is 16th of 18 states to pass legislation allowing students to possess and adminster live saving asthma and anaphylactic medication. It is the school nursewho evalutes the students technique for proper and effective use. To help reduce missed work/school days the community asthma educator promotes a team approach to improve awareness, knowledge and skills of children and public/ private school personnel regarding asthma. The community asthma educator works with the schools to assure that the physicians are using the Maine School Plans and managing asthma in accordance with the NHLBI Guidelines. My role in the community as the community asthma health educator is to encourage students to participate fully in school activities and to help educate staff, students and families regarding the expectation that all students fully engage in physical activities. One of my goals as the community asthma educator is to make sure 100% of all students in my school district have a Maine School asthma Plan for 2005-2006.

Learning Objectives:

1.Describe the team approach to improve awareness,knowledge and skills of school nurses,school adminstrators,and physical educators regarding asthma in the school setting.(e.g. emergency procedures,access to medications, exercise induced asthma issues)
• Display the Asthma Health Community Program Model for the community. 3.Identify the outcomes of implementing an Asthma Health Educator in the community.

Keywords: Asthma, Community-Based Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.