 |
| IN THIS SECTION |
 |
|
Asthma Education
Asthma or reactive airway disease is a chronic
disorder that results in restricted breathing due to inflammation of the
bronchial tubes, the main air passages in the lungs. Asthma affects 3 to 5
percent of adults and 7 to 10 percent of children in the United States. Severe
asthma attacks cause approximately 11 deaths a day.
 Three changes occur inside the airways of the lungs in
people with asthma: the first change is inflammation, or swelling, whereby the
airway becomes inflamed and produces thick mucus. Inflammation then leads to
constriction of the muscles around the airways, causing the airways to narrow.
This narrowing is also referred to as bronchospasm. The third change is
increased sensitivity of the airways, causing the asthma patient to become
overly sensitive to animal dander, pollen, cold air and tobacco smoke, just to
name a few.
The primary symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, and
shortness of breathe. A child who has frequent coughing or respiratory
infections should be checked for asthma.
United Health Services is the lead agency in providing
pediatric asthma education services to local children since 1997.
Asthma Coalition of the Southern Tier
United Health Services works in conjunction with ACOST
(Asthma Coalition of the Southern Tier). ACOST is a coalition partially funded
by the American Lung Association and the NYS Health Department. The primary
aims of the program are to:
1: Reduce hospital admissions, emergency room visits, and
missed school days
2: Enhance the quality of life of children with asthma
3: Develop a sustainable strategy for asthma management in
the community
*People who have asthma experience well over 100 million
days of restricted activity each year, and asthma is believed it is to be the
most common reason that students miss school.
*Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalizations in
children under 15.
* Visits to the emergency rooms due to asthma are
increasing. It is estimated that costs will exceed 14.5 billion.
The high prevalence of childhood asthma puts a huge burden on healthcare
utilization and health care costs. To ensure appropriate management for all
children with asthma remains available, existing healthcare resources are made
available by ACOST coalition and United Health Services.
Coalition efforts include improving access to quality
medical services, education, family community support, and support to schools
introducing the Open Airway Program (OAS). OAS is designed to help previously
diagnosed children to understand the warning signs, triggers, and use of asthma
medications. OAS is a free asthma education program for ages 8-12 years of
age. OAS is taught in 6 weekly sessions of 45 minutes each by specially trained
nurses from Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University.
Currently 130 children from 35 area schools are involved in
OAS. Over 600 children diagnosed with asthma have been educated in one of the
many programs offered by the coalition. Parents or guardians of OAS and are
contacted by telephone for 1 year from start of program by an asthma nurse.
Free packets of asthma education materials are sent to the home of children in
the OAS program. These free packets help to assist parents and children how to
“ control their asthma”. A free appointment may be scheduled with a certified
asthma educator to provide one on one education.
In addition a case management program by physician referral
provides a free home visit by a respiratory therapist medical personnel from
Professional Home Care. The purpose of this visit is to assess the environment
of the home, provide education, and provide hypoallergenic mattress and pillow
case covers. Professional education is also provided to school nurses, school
transportation personnel, teachers, physical education instructors, coaches,
head start programs, daycare centers, primary care providers, emergency
departments and walk-in clinics in the five counties.
For more information call
Judy Masciarelli RN AE-C
Asthma Coordinator UHS
763-6055
Acost supports asthma programs in Broome, Chenango, Tioga,
Delaware, and Otsego counties. |
