Programs

Asthma Disease Management

The Asthma DSM Program is based on the NIH National Asthma Education Program's Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, from its 1991 beginnings through the 1995 Global Initiative for Asthma to the Expert Panel II 2002 update on selected topics. It has been enhanced through 10 years of field experience, and it is designed in support of the patient's primary care physician through a respiratory therapist "extender".

The program provides education, techniques, and disease management based on a written, objective-based plan of care. The therapist and physician, using an approved formulary, develops the patient's ability to manage the disease and avoid the acute exacerbation which requires the costliest form of episodic care.

The patient and family will learn that, although asthma is a chronic disease, it can be well controlled. Failure to adhere to the treatment plan will result in return of symptoms, creating a new opportunity for the therapist to further develop the patient's understanding and adherence.

Patients and families will see their clinic visit as a positive experience, with care provided in a compassionate and supportive manner -- a visit the patient is excited to make, where their success is celebrated and their expectations exceeded on a regular basis.

Physicians are supported in the care of their patients with a valuable commodity, time. The RT practitioner spends large blocks of time in education, something that physicians cannot do in a cost effective manner. In addition, scheduled and unscheduled visits and telephone interactions allow the patient access and support needed in a timely manner. Patients have expressed increased satisfaction with their physician when they receive the support of the asthma center practitioner.

The focus and discipline provided by the program to patients and their physicians has provided dramatic savings of the medical costs associated with asthma. Reductions in ER/UC visits, hospital days, and unplanned physician visits have been seen in ALL Asthma project sites. In addition, lost work/school days have seen significant decreases improving the quality of life for our patients.

The most dramatic program success has been the improvement of our patients. They have significant reduction in their symptoms, and self manage their daily disease state knowing when to seek clinical care, prior to acute exacerbation.

The program provides the patient/family/physician/extender team the tools to excel in the care of this disease. Outcome data is collected routinely to demonstrate effectiveness and value to patients, clinicians, and payors.

Back to Programs