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Asthma Care Program

Care Coordination’s Asthma Program is based on the National Asthma Education Program’s Expert Panel Report 2 – Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma – Update on Selected Topics 2002.

The following is a description of the Asthma Care Program and its elements.

Program Goals

The primary goal of the Asthma Program is to minimize the morbidity and mortality of adults and children with asthma while achieving the highest possible quality of life through the following:

  1. Incorporation of the Asthma Clinical Guideline into a comprehensive health management program.
  2. Promote use of pulmonary function testing to properly diagnose and classify asthma severity.
  3. Maintain (near) normal pulmonary function rates.
  4. Prevent and control exacerbations of asthma.
  5. Prevent recurrent exacerbations of asthma.
  6. Promote tobacco cessation.
  7. Promote responsible self-management related to medication management, peak flow monitoring and trigger reduction.

Interventions

Care Coordination nurses work with health care providers and rely on the following interventions when working with Health Plan members enrolled in the Asthma program:

  1. Comprehensive asthma assessment and risk assessment.
  2. Individualized self-management education: triggers, symptom control, peak flows, action plan, spacers, and medication management.
  3. Collaboration with PCP to promote best practice–PFT screening and medication management.
  4. Health promotion/disease prevention services–influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, mammograms, safety belts, etc.
  5. Data analysis collection to support clinical management–PFTs, use of inhaled corticosteriods, utilization.

Program referral

To refer a Health Plan member to the Asthma Health Management Program, please call (800) 883-6355 or (570) 271-8763, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

References

1. National Asthma Education Program (NAEP) – Expert Panel Report 2 – Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma
2. NAEP – Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma – Update on Selected Topics 2002