EPA: Innovative Asthma Programs Improve Health

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News for Release: Monday, May 22, 2006

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Innovative Asthma Programs Improve Health

Contact: Roxanne , (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@...

(Washington, D.C. - May 22, 2006) Creating " safe sleeping zones " for kids

and providing one-on-one consultations with pharmacists are some of the

effective approaches that help improve the health and quality of life of asthma

sufferers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is highlighting approaches

like these with the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma

Management. IMPACT DC (Improving Pediatric Asthma Care in the District of

Columbia) and Blue Cross of California, State Sponsored Business Unit (SSB) are

this

year's winners.

" These award winners combine innovation, imagination and compassion to

improve the quality of life for asthma sufferers, " said Bill Wehrum, EPA acting

assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. " We can all take a deep breath

and express our appreciation for IMPACT DC and Blue Cross of California. "

Of the approximately 20 million Americans with asthma, more than six million

are children. The disease remains one of the leading causes of emergency

room visits and school absenteeism for children. Although there is no known

cure

for asthma, there are ways to reduce the number of attacks, including

avoiding exposure to environmental asthma triggers at home, school, and other

places where children spend their time.

With comprehensive asthma management for children, IMPACT DC, a program of

the Children's Research Institute at Children's National Medical Center in

Washington, D.C., reduces emergency room visits and decreases asthma severity.

The program's unique approach uses the emergency department to identify and

educate asthma patients, link them to primary care physicians or Medicaid

managed care organizations and follows them to ensure they receive effective

long-term care. The program also helps families avoid visits to the emergency

room by reducing environmental triggers in the home by helping parents create a

" safe sleeping zone " by making a child's bedroom free of dust mites, mold and

other allergens, or irritants that might trigger asthma.

Blue Cross of California, SSB, a managed care system, demonstrates leading

edge approaches to asthma care by providing multi-lingual pharmacist

consultations, home visits to assess environmental risks for high risk members,

and

incentives for physicians who follow the program's guidelines. Blue Cross of

California, SSB contributes to education and research efforts addressing air

quality and its effect on asthma through a community-wide coalition that it

founded.

May is Asthma Awareness month. EPA's recognition of the award winners will

be held in conjunction with the first Communities in Action for

Asthma-Friendly Environments National Forum. The forum will bring together 130

representatives from community-based asthma programs for a two-day workshop.

Through

interactive sessions, participants will learn from their peers about effective

strategies and approaches to managing asthma triggers and improving the lives

of people with asthma in their communities.

Read more about the 2006 National Environmental Leadership Awards in Asthma

Management: _http://www.epa.gov/asthma/leadership_award_winners.html_

(http://www.epa.gov/asthma/leadership_award_winners.html)

More information on asthma: _http://www.epa.gov/asthma_

(http://www.epa.gov/asthma)

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