 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kara Miller, Office of Air and Radiation/Office of Radiation and Indoor Air/Indoor Environments Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, MC 6609J, Washington, DC 20460 and Vicki Legion, San Francisco State University, Department of Health Education, Community Health Works of SF/YES WE CAN, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, 415-338-3480, miller.kara@epa.gov.
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. 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. YES WE CAN Children’s Asthma Program combines the strengths of medicine and public health in a model that is comprehensive, prevention-based and culturally competent. Beginning in 1997, 16 major San Francisco organizations joined together to carry out the following goals: to demonstrate a medical/social team model for prevention-oriented asthma care with low-income children; to scale up this approach through system and policy change; to develop materials for national replication; and to modify this team approach to other chronic diseases. In early 2003, the YES WE CAN Toolkit will be released and contains a step-by-step guide including manuals and all the tools needed for a primary care clinic to start an asthma program.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.