Asthma Network of West Michigan

CONTRIBUTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

What Your Contribution Can Mean

Every client referred to The Asthma Network for services between 10 and 18 home visits with a Registered Nurse or Respiratory Therapist, all of whom are certified asthma educators.  (Some patients progress faster than others and, thus, require fewer home visits).  These RNs and RTs are paid only by the home visit, not by payroll.  Home visits last from one hour to 90 minutes each and include dissemination of age-appropriate materials.  This ongoing professional evaluation of the home environment along with education in medication usage and “attack” prevention is key to our program and physicians have determined cannot be addressed by office visits.   Priority Health, Community Choice Michigan and Blue Care Network reimburse Asthma Network of West Michigan 32% of the cost of these visits, leaving us to fund raise for the remainder.  The needs of children without insurance or in plans that exclude in-home case management are met 100% through fund raising.  Currently, there are 82 such children on our waiting list.  Each has been hospitalized or visited the emergency room several times for their asthma and miss as many as 20-30 days of school per year because of it.

A Medical Social Worker (MSW) provides referral resources for adults in the family to reinforce a safe and healthy environment for the asthmatic child.  For example, referrals are made to food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and counseling resources (for smoking cessation, parenting skills, depression).

Asthma information is provided to essential school staff (principal, school secretary, classroom teacher, physical education teacher, and school nurse) so they understand how to manage the child’s asthma in the school setting.

Peak flow meters help patients measure their airway status, providing them with an early warning sign of impaired capacity.  Patients are encouraged to check their airway status with a peak flow meter at least twice daily.  We provide peak flow spacers free to patients who need them.

Essential for direct delivery of medication and reduces incidence of thrush (yeast infection in the mouth), but often are not part of prescription coverage.  Spacers are provided free of charge to those who need them.  

Families who are uninsured or under-insured may qualify for Medicaid coverage and are referred to plans that include asthma case management, thus reducing Asthma Network of West Michigan costs by 32%.

A significant barrier to health care for at-risk families is the lack of transportation.  The Asthma Network provides taxicab vouchers so they are able to keep medical appointments with their health care providers.

Another key component to the program, the Asthma Network case manager (RT or RN) accompanies the patient and caregiver to a physician’s office, acting as the “eyes and ears” of the doctor who has not been in the home or able to observe the child’s environmental triggers.  In addition, Asthma Network case manager ensures the child’s health care provider is adhering to NIH asthma clinical practice guidelines.  Together, the Asthma Network case manager, the physician and the family, develop a written Asthma Management Plan (as recommended by the National Institutes of Health) which is reviewed annually or more, as appropriate.  Copies of the plan are provided to the school and other caregivers (daycare, grandparents, etc.)