Increasing Access to Undesignated Asthma Medication in Illinois

Area of Science:

• Pediatric respiratory health
• School health services
• Quality improvement initiatives

Background:

• Asthma is a prevalent chronic condition in children, frequently causing emergency visits and school absenteeism.
• Students require timely access to asthma medication during the school day for respiratory distress.
• Personal asthma inhalers are often unavailable at school, creating a treatment gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To increase the availability of undesignated asthma medication in schools within North Suburban Cook County, Illinois.
• To address barriers preventing schools from stocking emergency asthma inhalers.
• To ensure prompt asthma treatment and coordinated care for students.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project was conducted by school nurses in North Suburban Cook County.
• Data was collected to assess the need for undesignated asthma medication.
• A toolkit was developed and disseminated to overcome implementation challenges.

Main Results:

• The project successfully increased the number of schools with undesignated asthma medication.
• The developed toolkit helped mitigate barriers to medication availability.
• Improved access to quick-relief medication was achieved for students with asthma.

Conclusions:

• Availability of undesignated asthma medication in schools is crucial for managing pediatric asthma exacerbations.
• School nurses play a vital role in ensuring students with asthma receive timely and effective care.
• Quality improvement projects can successfully enhance school-based asthma management strategies.