Department of Health Services, Clinical Resource Management Breathmobile Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Asthma is the most important chronic illness of childhood, affecting one out of every ten children. Up to half of these children are undiagnosed, yet, use Emergency Department resources just as frequently as those with known asthma. Three key barriers stand in the way of quality asthma care: under-diagnosis of asthma, poor access to care and incorrect care. The Breathmobile program has successfully overcome these key barriers in delivering high quality care to inner city asthmatic children residing in the greater Los Angeles area. This program is collaboration between the California Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation or America, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. It began in 1995 as a community outreach and education program and has since grown into a comprehensive disease management program based in 4 Breathmobile units, serving over 90 schools and three Comprehensive Health Centers. This program fundamentally restructures asthma care from reactive rescue care to proactive preventative care. The results of key clinical, fiscal, and programmatic goals are dramatic. Children who remain engaged in the program for one year had a 76% reduction in hospitalization, a 62% reduction in Emergency Department visits, and more than a 75% reduction in missed days of school from asthma. Over $1.24 million is saved annually for children engaged in the Breathmobile program from reduction in Emergency Department visits, inpatient hospitalizations, and missed days of school.