Asthma Quality Improvement: Enhancing Care for Children with Asthma

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8.4 percent of American children have diagnosed asthma. In a concerted effort to improve care for these pediatric patients, the American Lung Association joined forces with existing clinics across the country to launch our “Enhancing Asthma Care Program.” This nationally-recognized quality improvement partnership has since proven successful with now more than 530 clinics in 21 states. The carefully implemented framework includes technical assistance, Lung Association trainings (Asthma Educator Institute and Implementation and Interpretation of Spirometry), and other quality improvement components.

Effective…

Initial results published in the Journal of Asthma (May 2018), featuring 65 clinic locations in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, indicate a significant change via six key indicators:

• Severity rating
• Patient self-assessment, such as Asthma Control Test
• Controller medications
• Spirometry to confirm the diagnosis of asthma and ongoing management
• Written asthma action plan
• Patient asthma education

Analysis additionally demonstrates a 54% reduction in asthma-related health care costs in the first year, a return on investment well over $1:$2.40.

… and Sustainable!

• The Lung Association re-engaged 25 partner clinics in a “Booster Shot Program” in 2019 to measure the sustainability of the clinic’s asthma quality improvement efforts. This “Booster Shot Program is being offered to an additional 20 partner clinics in 2023/2024. This Booster Shot Program received the Lung Association’s 2019 Innovation Award.
• Health Care Service Corporation was a primary partner with the American Lung Association between 2012 and 2022.
• Thank you to Amgen and AstraZeneca for their support in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• The Lung Association’s Enhancing Asthma Care program is accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialists to meet Improving Health and Healthcare credits (formerly Maintenance of Certification Part IV credits).

"I gained a “better vision” for the American Lung Association and the quality support they offer to providers. I am amazed at the amount of physician, medical staff, and parent/patient educational materials they provide.

I have a “better vision” for the mechanics involved in proper initial evaluation and chronic care management of our asthma patients. I have improved the assessment of severity and the level of control, increased my knowledge of treatments & medications, and increased my understanding, interpretation, and use of spirometry in these patients."

-Dr. Steh, Illinois

For More Information

Contact Jill Heins Nesvold, M.S., National Senior Director of Health Systems Improvement & Indoor Air Quality, at: Jill.Heins@Lung.org

Watch video to learn about the benefits of this program from those who have experienced it.