ARMC’s Breathmobile
By Katherine Susman | Categories: | Comments Off on ARMC’s Breathmobile
County of San Bernardino, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Because asthma is the number one reason for school absenteeism, and the prevalence of asthma in the San Bernardino County ranks as one of the highest in the nation, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and the County of San Bernardino, in association with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, have implemented a unique approach to pediatric asthma management by establishing a Breathmobile program that provides care via an “asthma clinic on wheels”.
The goals of the program are to deploy two Breathmobiles to provide free asthma and asthma related care to surrounding underserved schoolchildren who are otherwise unable to receive this type of care.
The Breathmobile® travels to 40 different school sites throughout the County of San Bernardino, rotating to each site every six weeks. During the school hours the Breathmobile® staff sees patients that attend the school site as well as any child referred from the surrounding area. A complete evaluation, examination, care plan and extensive patient family education are completed at the time of the visit. Follow-up visits require a shorter time span than the initial evaluation. The average visit requires less than 30 minutes of the child’s day. Providing care at a familiar, convenient site, often within walking distance for parents without transportation, has greatly improved patient participation and compliance with follow-up care.
Funding for this program is provided by Arrowhead Regional Medical Center with additional financial support from ARMC’s Foundation.
The Breathmobile® staff consists of a pediatric specialty practitioner, a licensed vocational nurse and a respiratory therapist who are specially trained in asthma case management. The Breathmobile® team, in collaboration with school nurses and health aides, facilitates initial identification of patients. Ongoing communication with the school nurses and health aides help the patients remain compliant with their asthma management program.
The Breathmobile® healthcare model has proven to be very successful in overcoming the complex social and economic barriers that can prevent successful chronic disease management in children in lower socio-economic areas. Seventy-five percent of the children participating in this program have their asthma symptoms under control by the third follow-up visit, regardless of the severity of their illness. Evaluation studies have demonstrated decreased school absenteeism, fewer emergency room visits, improved pulmonary function and exercise tolerance, and an overall improved quality of life.