Luzerne County Asthma Coalition

Coalition comprises representation from Hospital/Clinic system, Medical providers, Nurses, Health Plan, American Lung Association, Department of Health, Pharmaceutical Company. We are currently implementing a pilot project with the American Lung Association's Asthma Care Packages whereby they are distributed at clinic site to newly diagnosed pediatric patients. In doing so, patient education can be provided at the point of diagnosis and contents/review of package contents can be accomplished. It is the goal of this pilot project that children and their caregivers will be empowered to effectively manage their asthma which will result in fewer complications/exacerbations of this disease.

We currently are following approximately 30 pediatric patients and their caregivers to determine if these individuals have a firm understanding of the proper self-management of asthma following our intervention at the clinic site. The Calition members are also in the process of developing an instructional DVD to accompany the Packages as an additional level of empowerment with and enhancement to existing program. Other activities include the implementation of programs that educate our school staff on the management of and emergency response protocols to asthma, as well as the education of our local medical providers on the National Guidelines of the diagnosis and treaatment of asthma and the proper use of Asthma Action Plans. Our coalition is at the beginning stages of formation and efforts to expand our representation/members is also currently underway.