Asthma: Look for It, Don’t Wait for It

An asthma flare-up can be traumatic and end in the ER. But it’s entirely avoidable, so the pediatrics team at Southwood Medical Center in Georgia got proactive. They identified the patients who were persistently asthmatic instead of just following up on those who had been hospitalized. They also taught parents and patients about the best way to avoid flare-ups, and how to use medication. Identifying asthmatics went from five percent to 79 percent in less than a year, and compliance with medication improved to nearly 100 percent.

Here's What Worked

• Identifying persistent asthmatics, instead of waiting to follow up on ER visits
• Discussing with patients and parents how to avoid flare-ups
• Educating about the proper use of their medication to control the disease

 What can your team do to harness KP's unique tools to enhance preventive care? And  what can your team do to help patients better understand their care?