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The Breathmobile Program: structure, implementation, and evolution of a large-scale, urban, pediatric asthma disease
Craig A Jones1, Loran T Clement, Jean Hanley-Lopez
1Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics at the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, USA. craigj@usc.edu
Disease Management : DM
|August 25, 2005
Summary
This study established a sustainable community asthma program for inner-city children, shifting them from emergency care to regular preventive treatment. The Breathmobile Program achieved excellent clinical control and reduced hospitalizations for pediatric asthma patients.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Asthma Management
- Healthcare Delivery Systems
Background:
- Inner-city children with asthma exhibit high morbidity and rely on episodic healthcare.
- Existing education and intervention programs have not sufficiently shifted care patterns.
- A need exists for sustainable, community-wide pediatric asthma disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and evaluate a sustainable community-wide pediatric asthma disease management program.
- To transition inner-city children from acute, episodic care to regular, preventive care.
- To align asthma care with national standards for pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- The Breathmobile Program utilized automated case identification and mobile school-based clinics.
- Interdisciplinary teams provided structured, regular care via mobile clinics (Breathmobiles).
- An electronic medical record system tracked data, with centralized oversight and quality evaluation.
Main Results:
- Over 5,000 patients engaged in a continuity care model, demonstrating efficacy over episodic care.
- More than 90% of patients achieved clinical asthma control across all severity levels.
- Significant reductions in inpatient and emergency department utilization were observed.
Conclusions:
- A well-designed, resourced school-based program can sustain a shift to preventive pediatric asthma care.
- Evidence-based evaluation and stratified care ensure efficient use of healthcare resources.
- The Breathmobile Program achieved disease-specific care certification, demonstrating program quality and sustainability.