Asthma is a serious chronic respiratory condition affecting both children and adults. In the US, it is the leading chronic illness in children and a leading cause of school absenteeism. As with other chronic health problems, lower economic levels of an area mean higher asthma prevalence. For the North Country Hospital service area, this may mean a higher rate of asthma in both children and adults than in Vermont as a whole.

North Country Hospital’s Asthma Management Service offers diagnosis and treatment as well as education and support to adolescents and adults with asthma. The overall goal of the Asthma Management Service is to improve the quality of life in persons with asthma throughout the hospital service area. More specifically, a team of specially trained health care professionals work with asthma patients and their families to assure optimal lung function and activity level, while reducing complications. At North Country, the team is lead by a board-certified pulmonologist in collaboration with the patient’s primary care provider. Other members include experienced Respiratory Care Practitioners some of whom are Certified Asthma Educators.

Persons with asthma can reduce the frequency of acute attacks, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations by learning about and closely following their treatment guidelines. For persons with asthma, it is especially important to know about preventing acute episodes caused by the environment around them. Examples of these environmental triggers that can cause acute flare-ups are tobacco smoke, cat dander or dust mites.

The North Country Hospital Asthma Management Service consists of four components:

• An asthma clinic directed by a board-certified pulmonologist for assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
• An educational component available from a Certified Asthma Educator in a one-on-one clinic setting or through home visits and school visits if needed
• Promoting the use of a Universal Asthma Action Plan for all persons with asthma. This is done in conjunction with the VT Department of Health Asthma Action Plan and the National Asthma Education & Prevention Program (NAEPP)
• Increasing community awareness about asthma and how persons with asthma can manage their symptoms and reduce acute attacks and emergency room visits.
  

For more information about asthma please visit our Health Links section.

For more information about North Country Hospital’s Asthma Management Service, contact the Manager of our Respiratory Care Services at 334-3210, Ext. 574.