Positive Health Outcomes
With a primary focus on reducing the burden of asthma in the Richmond Metropolitan area, the Controlling Asthma in the Richmond Metropolitan Area (CARMA) project is proof of Bon Secours Richmond’s mission to provide good help to those in need. While CARMA’s overall goal is to improve the quality of life for children with asthma, each of the project’s eight interventions has its own unique indictors of success and targeted goals.
Case Management - More than 150 children with asthma have received intense home-based case management services. For those children case managed for at least 12 months, there has been a 70% decrease in ED visits and an 86% decrease in hospitalizations.
In-Home Trigger Remediation Program - 89% of children showed decrease symptoms at the 30-day follow-up visit and 79% of children showed decrease symptoms at the 90-day follow-up visit.
Head Start & Child Care Facilities Program - More than 300 teachers and child care administrators have received the asthma management training. More than 90% of the classrooms completing the walk-through have made the recommended environmental changes to reduce asthma triggers
Asthma FIT - More than 600 children have completed the program. Pre-post surveys of knowledge suggest the program has significantly increased knowledge and awareness of the importance of diet and exercise; asthma triggers; asthma myths; and signs and symptoms of an asthma attack.
Asthma Educator Institute - More than 160 professionals have completed the seminar and have shown a significant increase in knowledge documented by pre-post testing. Participants have also had high success in passing the qualifying exam for certification.
Physician Asthma Care for Children - More than 60% of the pediatric practices in the Richmond metro area have at least one member of their clinical team who has completed the training. Evaluation results suggest a significant increase in knowledge of asthma guidelines with specific plans to change practice protocols.
Provider Quality Improvement (QI) Initiative - More than 70% of the pediatric practices in the Richmond metro area have participated in one of the three levels of the QI intervention. Significant changes in practice management of asthma on all seven key indicators of asthma management in all practices completing the 12 month QI program:
- Identification of triggers: 61% increase
- Symptoms: 55% increase
- Asthma classification: 42% increase
- Patient education: 41% increase
- Spacers: 40% increase
- Action plans: 38% increase
- Spirometry: 29% increase
Asthma Education (Schools and Community) - More than 600 local children with asthma have completed these programs with a 30% average knowledge change and 60% self-reported improved management skills.
