Arizona Public Health Association Resolution
Childhood Asthma
The Arizona Public Health Association, understanding that asthma is an ambulatory care sensitive condition that is responsive to appropriate care and management; and
Recognizing that asthma is the most prevalent chronic illness among Arizona children;
Recognizing that asthma disproportionately affects minority populations and those living in poverty;
Realizing that untreated, or inadequately treated, childhood asthma can result in remodeling of the airways such that permanent damage is sustained;
Realizing that untreated, or inadequately treated, childhood asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism;
Recognizing that environmental conditions can trigger acute asthma episodes but that many of these conditions are readily controllable;
Noting that Donna Shalala, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has called for a special initiative by that agency to combat the asthma epidemic in our country;
Recognizing that knowledge to successfully manage asthma in most patients can readily be found in the National Institutes ofHealth (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (Guidelines); and
Understanding that the appropriate care of childhood asthma requires a partnership between health care providers, administrators of schools and child care programs, private enterprise and families.
Therefore, the Arizona Public Health Association:
1. Strongly encourages AHCCCS, KidsCare and private health insurers to adopt the standards of asthma care found in the NIH/NAEPP Guidelines and other publications, and require their providers to create an asthma action plan for each child with asthma to improve diagnosis, treatment and referral;
2. Strongly encourages AHCCCS, KidsCare and private health insurers to provide all children with asthma peak flow meters, spacers and other equipment necessary to achieve self-efficacy in asthma management;
3. Strongly encourages the Arizona Department of Education and all local school districts to adopt the Environmental Protection Agency policies and procedures described in Tools for Schools to develop and maintain environmental conditions on school grounds that are safe for children with asthma;
4. Strongly encourages the Arizona Department of Education and all local school districts to develop policies and procedures which enable children with asthma to self medicate based on the documented observation and approval of nursing staff who are trained in educating children on preventive and acute asthma care;
5. Supports community organizations such as the Arizona Asthma Coalition, the Maricopa Allies Against Asthma Coalition and the Asthma Care Alliance of Southern Arizona in their efforts to develop local solutions for children with asthma and their families.
6. Strongly encourages private enterprise to join in the campaign to raise awareness that ASTHMA CAN BE CONTROLLED by providing employees with information about diagnosing and managing asthma in their children and grandchildren and by requiring health insurers to provide the equipment and education needed to manage asthma.
136~1999_(1)Childhood asthma (children, healthcare, insurance, education)