Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the
United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more
than 5% of the US population has asthma and the numbers are growing.
The number of asthma suffers has more than doubled from 6.7 million
in 1980 to 17.3 million in 1998. An estimated 4.8 million are children.
Asthma is hitting hardest and disproportionately among, poor, inner-city
dwellers. Asthma is believed to be the most common reason that students
miss school. Asthma currently cannot be cured, only controlled.
To help combat the rising tide of asthma among children,
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) awarded eight planning grants
nationwide in 2001 to develop models to improve access to and the
quality of clinical care, reduce asthma symptoms and foster patient
and community education.
The Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma Coalition (PAAA)
received a planning grant and was awarded a three-year, $1.35 million,
implementation grant in January 2002. The Health Promotion Council serves
as the lead agency for the coalition. The target area of North and West
Philadelphia contains over 14,000 children with asthma, most of whom
are very low income. The grants are made under the Foundation's Allies
Against Asthma program.
PAAA coalition consists of 102 individuals representing more than
40 organizations. The Coalition is composed of stakeholders from health
care systems, providers, schools, insurers, community based agencies,
nursing centers, state and local heath departments and parent/caregivers.
Approximately 60% of the membership actively participate on one or
more committees; other members have volunteered to undertake special
assignments and to support the efforts of these committees as the
implementation phase unfolds.
PAAA identified problems related to fragmentation of care, lack of
system coordination, inconsistent or unavailable education for patients
and providers, inappropriate use of emergency services, under use
of available insurance coverage and barriers to direct provider access.
PAAA will address these issues through improvements in care coordination
and expansion of educational resources. A new Asthma CALL (Child Asthma
Link Line) Center has been opened to better link schools, emergency
departments, managed care organizations, primary care providers and
educational services to families in need. PAAA also identified exposure
to tobacco smoke in the home as a major trigger for asthma for Philadelphia's
children.
A Collaborative of PAAA members has also been established to expand
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Community Asthma Prevention Program
(CAPP). This comprehensive asthma education program in
West Philadelphia will expand to North Philadelphia. CAPP uses peer-reviewed
strategies endorsed by Healthy People 2010, including patient education,
controlling exposure to environmental triggers, formulation of action
plans, monitoring of lung function and partnering with families in order
to improve quality of life for children with asthma. This expansion
is funded through CDC's Controlling Asthma in American Cities Project.
PAAA is also promoting additional home visiting and school based programs
by its member groups.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, The Philadelphia Foundation,
and the Philadelphia Department of Public Heath also provide local
financial support for the implementation phase of PAAA.
For additional information,
call 215-731-6195/mccarville@phmc.org.
