Hospitals, health care companies and states are implementing asthma disease management programs to help asthma sufferers improve their quality of life and help everyone involved lower the cost of care. When patients learn self-care and asthma control techniques, they are less likely to miss school or work, be hospitalized or go to the emergency room as a result of the disease. According to a report provided by Delaware Health and Social Services, the implementation of programs relating to asthma disease management can also help reduce the severity of asthma.
Asthma Disease Management Trends
Hospital management programs. Clinical pharmacists, like the ones at Cedar-Sinai Health Associates, provide asthma patients with asthma control skills by helping them identify triggers (so they can avoid or reduce their exposure to them) and use asthma-related devices correctly, including spacers, peak flow meters and inhalers. Asthma disease management programs vary by health care facility.
Wellness programs from health care companies. Avivia Health , a program for group members of Kaiser Permanente plans, provides a wellness program for those who suffer from chronic conditions, including asthma. The Level One program involves a Health Risk Assessment, asthma control education and access to tools that teach self-care skills. Level Two has the same offerings as Level One and includes unlimited calls to a health coach. The Level Three program offers general awareness activities, calls to and from health coaches and web-based campaigns.
State-based programs. States like Washington and Delaware incorporate asthma disease management plans into their Medicaid programs. Such programs help provide asthma control education to populations that are most at risk for asthma-related complications, such as those with lower income levels. These programs help patients gain access to asthma education, identify and avoid asthma triggers, manage symptoms and monitor their disease. The purpose of such programs is to help improve the health and quality of life of residents and keep health care costs low for all parties. State-based programs continually measure the outcomes of such programs, including their costs, against the demands of society to measure their effectiveness and value.
With the rise of preventative care and wellness programs, patients have increased access to educational resources and tools that can help make living with asthma less of a challenge. A simple phone call to your health care provider, local hospital, county health department or community center can help you find resources near you.
[Photo by: Mr MPD, via CC License]
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