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Regional paediatric asthma centre: An intervention model
Wg Smith1, K Downey, B Frampton
1Regional Paediatric Asthma Centre, Orillia, Ontario.
Insights
A new multidisciplinary pediatric asthma clinic successfully reduced emergency room visits by 20% and hospital admissions by 12%. This model effectively lowers pediatric asthma morbidity in the community.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Community Health
- Asthma Management
Background:
- Pediatric asthma significantly contributes to childhood morbidity.
- Effective community-based management strategies are crucial for reducing asthma-related healthcare utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a dedicated multidisciplinary pediatric asthma clinic.
- To evaluate the clinic's effectiveness in decreasing pediatric asthma morbidity.
Main Methods:
- A community needs assessment preceded clinic establishment.
- Clinic model prioritized a multidisciplinary approach, distinct from adult services.
- Effectiveness measured by patient/parent reports, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions.
Main Results:
- Emergency room visits for pediatric asthma decreased by 20% between the first and third year of operation.
- Hospital admissions for pediatric asthma declined by 12%.
- Asthma clinic visits by pediatric patients increased by 200%.
Conclusions:
- The multidisciplinary pediatric asthma clinic model is a community-integrated approach.
- The clinic demonstrably reduces pediatric asthma morbidity, evidenced by reduced emergency room utilization.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary paediatric asthma clinic in reducing the morbidity associated with paediatric asthma.
Methods:
An initial survey of need was undertaken in the community of Orillia, Ontario and the surrounding area. The clinic was established as a separate entity from the adult model. The multidisciplinary nature of the clinic was a priority. The effectiveness of the clinic was assessed with patient/parent reports and objectively analyzed by assessing the frequency of asthma visits to the emergency room and hospital admissions.
Results:
Comparison was undertaken between the first year and third year of clinic operation. The number of paediatric asthma visits to the emergency room was reduced by 20%. The number of paediatric asthma inpatient visits was reduced by 12%. At the same time, the number of paediatric asthma visits to the asthma clinic increased by 200%.
Conclusions:
This multidiscipline paediatric asthma clinic model is community friendly and reduces the morbidity of asthma as evidenced by declining visits to the emergency room.
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