Government

The US EPA Indoor Environments Program focuses on reducing the prevalence of asthma triggers in homes and schools using EPA guidance and intervention methods through a network of state health agencies and cooperatives agreements.

The Pawnee Asthma Program serves to improve the quality of life and access to care for children by forming partnerships with schools, conducting outreach and education, operating a clinic, and establishing an asthma registry, among other activities. The program assists with the following:

1) Kids under 18 years of age.
2) Asthma Register Database.
3) Designated Pharmacist & Pediatrician.
4) Asthma Clinic.
5) Use of Pediatric Spacers/Masks.
6) Peak Flow Meters and Asthma Plans.
7) Pediatric Spirometry.
8) Development of an Asthma PCC+
9) Required use of IHS Patient Education Protocols and Codes (PEPC).
10) Home Visit Referrals for Asthma Trigger Evaluation.
12) Asthma Trigger Home Abatement Funding.
13) Education by a certified Asthma Educator RN/PHN.
14) Collaboration with the Barnsdal, Frontier, Pawhuska and Wynona School Districts.

We have 1064 active patients diagnosed with Asthma. If the Doctor asks for a referral that I take a look over, I investigate for potential triggers in the home. I report and make recommendations and have canceled many things to assist families in correcting the problems. I have had some real success stories, but it was not easy. The headaches created for staff, supervisors, and patients was the difficult. But in the end, it was worth it.

I work for the Environmental Health programming for the Tribal governments. This includes water, sewer, food safety, and indoor air quality.

I will continue to reduce the exposure to the environmental health threats to the Tribal members.