A case management approach to pediatric asthma

Although a controllable disease, asthma costs our nation billions of dollars each year due to hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and lost time from school and work. In 1993, a case management program within a large inner-city health maintenance organization (HMO) was developed to address these concerns by empowering patients and their families to control asthma exacerbations. Program evaluation of 114 patients indicates a decrease in hospitalization and emergency costs. ER visits were decreased by 50% and hospitalizations, measured by discharges, were decreased by 66%. In addition, office encounters increased by 25% during this same time period.