237195 A community collaborative to improve school nurse access to written asthma action plans

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 10:30 AM

Erin Knoebel, MD, MPH , Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Lisa Raymond, LSN , Minnesota School District ISDS535, Rochester, MN
Marty Aleman, MA, PHN , Healthy Communities (Primary Prevention), Olmsted County Public Health Services, Rochester, MN
Katherine Accurso , ESC Student Support Services, Minnesota School District ISDS535, Rochester, MN
Paul Targonski, MD, PhD , Mayo Clinic Division of Primary Care Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System Practice-Based Research Network, Rochester, MN
     
Background

The 2007 NAEPP guidelines recommend that clinicians provide all patients who have asthma a written asthma action plan (AAP) and that educational opportunities for patients with asthma expand to a variety of settings, including schools. A community collaborative in Olmsted County, MN convened to address care coordination for school-aged children with asthma.

Purpose

Every child (ages 5-18) with asthma in Rochester, MN schools will have a written AAP at school.

Significance

Anticipated benefits of improved care coordination include healthier students, fewer school absences and efficient communication between students, parents, schools and health care providers.

Design/Methods

A community task force convened and approved a community-based definition of asthma. Baseline asthma prevalence and AAP completion data were obtained from schools and providers. A HIPAA/FERPA compliant information sharing consent form was agreed upon. Requests for AAPs and consent for information sharing between schools and healthcare providers were sent to parents/guardians of students with asthma. Healthcare providers were informed of need for written AAPs.

Results

Since implementation, there has been a 6-fold increase in AAPs on file at school with 78% of schools reporting. Approximately 2/3 of students who now have AAPs at school also have given consent for information sharing with healthcare provider to the school.

Conclusions

Through collaborative involvement of all stakeholders, a process for care coordination between healthcare providers and schools has been implemented and successful. An ongoing BEACON community grant should facilitate further study of community education needs and use of information technology to improve communication and care coordination.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe a successful community collaborative model for guideline implemetation in the management of chronic disease

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Asthma

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am quatlified to present because I am an active participant in the community collaborative described in this work.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: School Health Services: Chronic disease management
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