A Novel Approach to Decreasing Asthma Exacerbation Rates by Holding a Multidisciplinary Education Intervention in a Community Hospital Setting

Background:   An estimated 47,000 children in Nevada are living with chronic asthma.  Unplanned physician visits, emergency department admissions, and hospital utilization are often due to inadequate symptomatic management and asthma control.

Purpose: The Asthma Kids Club program was developed by St. Rose Dominican Hospital certified health educators to address the increased asthma exacerbation rates among the pediatric population in Southern Nevada.  Early intervention of asthma education should decrease hospital utilization and emergency room visits compared to individuals who did not participate in this intervention.

Methods:   The Asthma Kids Club intervention was initiated in summer 2011 on a quarterly basis and included pulmonary screening with a respiratory therapist, physician consultation, medication utilization review, and access to free recommended immunizations.  Roseman University of Health Sciences student pharmacists under the supervision of a clinical pharmacist demonstrated appropriate inhaler and spacer technique, explained the benefits of rescue inhaler usage and peak flow monitoring.  In addition, medication counseling and asthma/allergy trigger management were conducted during the creation of asthma action plan.  Since its conception, a total of four Asthma Kids Club events have been conducted.

Results: 114 families have participated with 201 children attending at least one asthma event during year 2011 to 2012.  Of these, 83 have no documented emergency room visits or hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbations or complications.  This represents a decline for those families that have participated in this targeted intervention.   

Conclusion:   Working within a coordinated healthcare team is a cost effective way to assist the underserved in the community.  The impact of a targeted multidisciplinary team approach to asthma education in a pediatric patient population is a viable option to maximize current therapy and improve overall health outcomes.