Government

Goal is to reduce asthma exacerbations, ER visits and missed school and work days. This can be accomplished by educating the families through home visits and asthma clinic visits. We had an incentive program which motivates people to learn all more about asthma as it affects their family, as well as their community. We haven't had too many activities except for the clinic and the one-on-one home visits. We had three asthma patients, ages 9-11, attend Camp Foster asthma camp in Iowa in June of 2006. All three went on a scholarship and immensely enjoyed their experience. They were presented with a certificate of appreciation commending them for their attendance.

I also volunteered at the American Indian Relief Council so to get these patients some incentives as AIRC quit giving us incentives.

The Asthma EPA program at Pawnee IHS is targeted at pediatric patients 0-18 years of age with the diagnosis of asthma. There are currently 444 pediatric patients in our service unit who have the diagnosis of asthma which is approximately 5% of the population. However, if we look at the Pawnee area specifically, the prevalence for asthma is 27%.

Our program's purpose is to provide a multi-disciplinary outpatient asthma service which uses extensive patient and staff education on pathophysiology, medications, diagnostic testing and classification, devices, and environmental triggers. Our multidisciplinary team consist of a pediatrician, pharmacist, certified Asthma Educator, Public Health Nurse, Environmental Specialist, and a patient representative.

Activities to date include home evaluations, community asthma awareness health fairs, one-on-one education, and application for additional grant monies to fund a bi-monthly asthma clinic. We have an asthma register in place but hope to upgrade for tracking outcomes such use of medications, use of peak flow, number of asthma actions plans written, number of missed school and/or work days, and number of emergency room visits due to asthma exacerbation.

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