Fatal asthma in children: a nurse managed model for prevention

In response to the rise in pediatric asthma-related deaths and the absence of guidance in the literature for prevention of such deaths, a nurse managed program was designed to prevent death in children at risk for death from asthma. Published guidelines for identification of children with life-threatening asthma were used to develop a comprehensive health care network designed to provide early, aggressive medical attention and rapid access to care for selected children. The program has been successful in assuring more aggressive and timely intervention for asthma attacks and there have been no deaths from lack of access to appropriate care since the program's inception.