Asthma:
Resources
Wisconsin Asthma Plan 2009-2014
An updated blueprint for addressing asthma in Wisconsin created by the Wisconsin Asthma Coalition.
View full plan.
View executive summary.
Quick links: Allergist outreach | Business case | Clinical tools | Clinical tools for pharmacists | Clinical tools for physicians and other prescribing clinicians | Cultural competency | Environment-housing | Environment-indoor assessment | Environment-indoor asthma trigger control | Environment-outdoor | Family support | Family support-free/low cost clinics and services | General asthma information | Guidelines | Health disparities | Just for kids| Policy | Schools | Schools-environment | Statistics | Work-related asthma
Allergist outreach
Over 1140 participants have been trained in this program (2002-2009). The curriculum and handouts are now available to be implemented within your own community using local asthma specialists as faculty. Please contact Kristen Grimes for more information.
- Curriculum.
- Devices outline.
- Asthma Control Test in English – Adult (ages 12 and older) and Child (ages 4-11).
- Asthma Control Test in Spanish – Adult (ages 12 and older) and Child (ages 4-11).
- Sample asthma action plan 1 – English and Spanish.
- Sample asthma action plan 2 – English and Spanish.
- Living with asthma survey.
- Progress note.
- Asthma: A Business Case for Employers and Health Care Purchasers – Three employer/purchaser strategies for cost-effectively bringing asthma under control.
- Asthma ROI Calculator – Explores potential financial returns from quality improvement and asthma disease management programs.
- Insurance coverage for asthma – A value and quality checklist for purchasers of health care.
- Investing in Best Practices for Asthma: A Business Case for Education and Environmental Interventions – Published by the Asthma Regional Council of New England.
- The Role of Pest Control in Effective Asthma Management: A Business Case – Geared toward the healthcare industry. Published by the Asthma Regional Council of New England.
- Air quality information for health professionals – Information to assist in educating patients, students and clients on how air quality can affect health.
- Asthma action plans - Print and electronic plans for children and adults.
- Asthma coding, billing and reimbursement – Guidelines and information.
- Asthma Control Test – Two tests available: one for Ages 4-11 and one for Ages 12 and over to gauge if asthma is in control.
- Asthma medication card – Quick reference put together by the University of Michigan Health System.
- Certified asthma educators (AE-C) – List of Wisconsin Asthma Coalition AE-C willing to serve as an informational resource and mentor those preparing for the national asthma certification exam.
- Children's Health Survey for Asthma– Self-report measure completed by parents of children with chronic asthma between the ages of 5 and 16.
- Depression screening tool – Use the validated two-question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ2) as an initial assessment for depression. If a patient answers “yes” to either question, follow-up using the nine-question tool (PHQ9).
- Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D.
- Environmental health resources for health care professionals – Contaminants, exposure pathways, exposure history, etc.
- Implementing the Pediatric Asthma Core Measures: Home Management Plan of Care – WAC Webinar with Laurie Smrz, RN, BSN, AE-C, providing an example of implementation in a hospital setting. More information.
- Interactive Asthma Action Plan – Consent forms, online and desktop versions and information to order paper copies. Your own logo can be added.
- Prescription Assistance Programs for Patients with Asthma– Outlines prescription assistance programs to aid in the cost of specific asthma medications.
- Survey Identifies Barriers to AE-C Recertification – Survey results published in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy Educators, regarding the value of asthma educator certification and if certified asthma educators (AE-C) intend to recertify.
- Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids – Assessment tool for health care professionals to use with children younger than age 5.
Clinical tools for pharmacists
- Asthma Care Fax – Tool for pharmacists to notify health care providers when a patient is excessively using short-acting beta agonist (updated September 2011). How to use the Asthma Care Fax.
- Clinical pocket tool for asthma – Includes typical medication profiles and components to be covering during a comprehensive medication review and assessment.
- Pharmacist Toolkit: Caring for Patients with Asthma – Presentation by Erika Horstmann, PharmD, RPh, discusses pharmacists interventions related to validated asthma care.
- The Coulee Region Community Pharmacy Asthma Intervention Study – Shows Asthma Care Fax is helpful to health care professionals in making clinical decisions - published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (November/December, 2006).
- The Wisconsin Asthma Coalition Partners with Pharmacists – WAC is featured in the March/April 2010 issue of the Journal of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin.
- WAC and PSW Webinar - Elderly with Asthma and COPD: Interventions for Pharmacists – Presented by Erika Horstmann, PharmD, RPh, MD Group Hometown Pharmacies.
Clinical tools for physicians and other prescribing clinicians
- Asthma Focused Follow-up Visit – Pathway for completing an asthma follow-up visit with patient.
- Asthma Inhaler Medication Form – Authorization form for students to carry their asthma inhaler at school.
- Diagnosis and Management of Work-Related Asthma, American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement – Includes updated definition of work-related asthma, diagnosis and management. Published in Chest 2008.
- EQIPP: Diagnosing and Managing Asthma in Pediatrics – Online CME program to help participants create a plan for improvement to address gaps they identified in their practice.
- Guidance for health care providers who prescribe emergency medications – Recommendations for when medical providers and parents authorize students with asthma or allergies to carry their emergency medications at school.
- Cultural Competence Item Set – captures the cultural competence of health care providers from the patient’s perspective.
- Cultural Competency Review Tool – Evaluates asthma educational materials for cultural competency.
- Cultural Competence Tool White Paper – Discusses the creation and purpose of the Cultural Competence Tool created by the WAC disparities workgroup.
- Culturally Effective Care Toolkit – Practical, hands-on resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Leave No Asthmatic Child Behind: The Cultural Competency of Asthma Educational Materials – Results of the review of asthma educational materials for cultural competence. Published in Ethnicity and Disease, 2007.
- SPIRAL: Selected Patient Information Resources in Asian Languages – Provides several asthma resources.
- WAC webinar: Results of the adolescents disease empowerment and persistency technology (ADEPT) for asthma studies presented by Giselle Mosnaim, MD, Rush University.
- Environmental Burden of Disease Associated with Inadequate Housing Summary Report: Methods for Quantifying Health Impacts of Selected Housing Risks.
- Healthy Homes Contractors – Provides assistance in locating a consultant or contractor to help maintain a safe and healthy home.
- Housing Interventions and Health: A Review of the Evidence - the housing and neighborhood improvements that are scientifically proven to improve health and safety.
- Healthy homes assessment form - One-page assessment form to be used by non-environmental health staff during a home visit.
- Healthy Homes Checklist – action steps to take in each room and area of the home.
- How Asthma-Friendly is Your Child-Care Setting? Seven-item list that can be used by parents, teachers, and school nurses to help pinpoint specific areas that may cause problems for children with asthma.
- Kenosha County Healthy Homes Initiative – Free indoor assessment and materials to reduce allergy triggers for residents of Kenosha County. Request more information.
Environment-indoor asthma trigger control
- A Healthy Home for Everyone: The Guide for Families and Individuals – Action steps to make your home healthy.
- Allergens and irritants – Information and prevention strategies to reduce exposure.
- Asthma and allergy certification standards - Allergen avoidance plan and certified asthma and allergy friendly products.
- Care for Your Air tour – Identifies potential key pollutants in the home and how to address them.
- Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety - Teaches consumers how to control pests in and around the home including how to safely select, use, store and dispose of pesticides.
- Controlling Asthma in the Home: A Guide for Landlords and Tenants - Brochure on asthma basics and how to control asthma triggers. Spanish version. Hmong version.
- Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Wisconsin Homes - This report examines the trends and health effects associated with secondhand smoke.
- Fragranced Consumer Products: Chemicals Emitted, Ingredients Unlisted – Article discusses a study showing 25 household products shown to emit 133 different volatile organic compounds.
- Healthy homes poster – Use this poster to initiate conversation regarding home health hazards.
- Indoor AIRepair™ - Explores the connection between indoor air quality and asthma. Offers low- and no-cost solutions for home, school and play.
- Indoor allergens – Discusses common allergens and steps to reduce exposure.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Simple steps to implement.
- Mold - Information on mold and health including assessment, cleanup and prevention.
- National childhood asthma media campaign - Public Service Announcements (PSAs) designed to inform parents and caretakers of children living with asthma.
- Nitrogen dioxide – Steps to reduce exposure to nitrogen dioxide.
- Pet allergy – Information on the effects for those allergic to pets and how to reduce exposure.
- Recipes for healthy cleaning - Inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives to commercial household products. View more recipes.
- Reducing asthma morbidity through home-based environmental interventions – Recommendations based on systematic review of home-based, multi-trigger, multicomponent environmental interventions.
- The sins of green washing – Information on how to identify true green products.
- Toxic mold – Describes how to identify toxic mold and reduction strategies.
- Tox Town – Environmental issues and toxic chemicals where we live, work and play.
- AIRNow – Provides easy access to national air quality information.
- Air quality information for health professionals – Information to assist in educating patients, students and clients on how air quality can affect health.
- Environmental Public Health Tracking – Ongoing surveillance and analysis of environmental hazards and disease data.
- Hidden Health Costs of Transportation – Report summarizing the cost of transportation with regard to health and recommendations for future transportation policy and investment.
- Introduction to Children’s Environmental Health – Establishes the link between protecting the environment and health.
- Mobile source emissions – Information on air pollution from vehicles, engines and other machines that move.
- Outdoor allergens - Common allergens and steps to reduce exposure.
- Outdoor wood boilers - Guidance for local government and public health officials on use and regulation.
- Wisconsin air quality notices – Sign-up for air quality notices, view current air quality and identify ways that you can help.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Free resources on outdoor air quality and how it affects health.
- A Healthy Home for Everyone: The Guide for Families and Individuals – Action steps to make your home healthy.
- Asthma PACT™ (Personalized Assessment and Control Tool) - Free tool for patients to discover if their (or their child's) asthma is under control, and learn ways to improve their quality of life.
- Asthma triggers and management - Tips to minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.
- Attack asthma – Asthma, preventing attacks, asthma action plans and a section specific for kids.
- Breathe easy during allergy season – Steps to prevent severe reactions to seasonal allergens.
- Certified Asthma Educators – List of Wisconsin Asthma Coalition certified asthma educators willing to serve as an informational resource and mentor those preparing for the national asthma certification exam.
- Healthy homes contractors – Locate a consultant or contractor to help maintain a safe and healthy home.
- Lung Help Line 1-800-548-8252 - Staffed by registered nurses and respiratory therapists with extensive experience in the health care industry.
- Prevention of allergies and asthma in children – Steps that may delay or possibly prevent allergies or asthma from developing.
- Self-Tests for Adults and Children – Includes quality of life and asthma self-tests for children and adults. Available in English and Spanish.
- Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids – Test to decide if your child’s (younger than age 5) breathing problems are not under control.
- Understanding an asthma attack - Interactive asthma animation.
- Vitamin D and health – Overview of Vitamin D and the link to respiratory infections.
Family support - free/low cost clinics and services
- Free/low cost clinics in the Milwaukee area – includes clinic location, phone number and hours.
- Health clinics in Wisconsin – Federally qualified health centers, free clinics, rural health centers, tribal health centers and low or no cost dentists.
- Prescription Assistance Programs for Patients with Asthma - Outlines prescription assistance programs to aid in the cost of specific asthma medications.
- Primary care clinics in Wisconsin – Clinic location, phone, Web site, eligibility and other details.
- America's Asthma Health Guide™: Personal pocket-sized booklet Teaches adults and children about asthma, its triggers and treatments.
- Attack asthma public service announcements – Television, radio and print ads free for download and use.
- CDC Asthma Speaker’s Kit for Healthcare Professionals - 62-slide presentation depicts the pathophysiology of asthma; prevalence, mortality, and morbidity measures at the national level; risk factors; medical management; and the public health response needed to successfully fight asthma.
- Diseases and conditions index: Asthma - Asthma information, including graphics and interactive quizzes.
- Pedipress - Free asthma tools for professionals and patients.
- Vitamin D and health – Provides an overview of Vitamin D.
- Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR - 3).
- Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma.
- Interpretation of Exhaled Nitric Oxide Levels for Clinical Applications – published by the American Thoracic Society.
- Managing Asthma During Pregnancy.
- Partners Putting Guidelines into Action – Includes six priority messages that come out of EPR-3 and ways that they may be implemented.
- Health disparities and inequalities report, United States 2011 – Data on disparities in mortality, morbidity, risk factors, health care access, and more.
- Healthy Communities Matter: The Importance of Place to the Health of Boys of Color – Report highlighting how neighborhoods where African-American and Latino boys and young men grow up directly influence their health outcomes.
- Who Are America’s Poor Children? Examining health disparities by race and ethnicity – Report linking socioeconomic and health data.
- Why place and race matter – A report examining how environmental factors can be strengthened.
- Wisconsin Minority Health Program - Data, resources and programs.
- “A” is for Asthma – Sesame Street workshop providing steps for controlling a child’s asthma.
- Asthma funbook – Crossword puzzle, maze, connect-the-dots, coloring page and seek-and-find.
- Dusty The Asthma Goldfish and His Asthma Triggers funbook – Helps children and parents learn about asthma in a fun way.
English. Spanish. - Just for kids - Games, puzzles, videos and more to help you learn about managing your allergies and asthma.
- Kids’ health - Asthma: Resources for kids with asthma. Includes text, video, stories and tools.
- Live, Learn, Play - Tune into Your Health and Environment - Book for teens to learn about environmental health issues.
- Quest for the Code - Video game to help children and teens learn how to manage their asthma.
- Asthma Inhaler Law - Public school students have the right to self-carry their rescue inhaler on their person.
- Asthma Inhaler Law Expansion - Expanded to include private and charter schools.
- Changing pO2licy: The Elements for Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes – Published by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.
- No pet policy - Sample policy from Fond du Lac School District.
- Reduction in Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits After Implementation of a Smoke-Free Law – Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Sept. 2008. View abstract.
- Smoke-free air law on year later: Everyone’s breathing easier – Article published in the July/August 2011 issue, Journal of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin.
- Smoke-free law video - Watch this two minute video from bar and restaurant owners across the state who say their business is doing well under Wisconsin’s smoke-free law.
- Smoke-free Policies in Multiunit Housing Manual – includes strategies, recommendations, best practices and tools.
- State laws related to healthy homes – Links to state laws on landlord/tenant, housing/maintenance, health, mold, etc.
- Wisconsin Asthma Coalition webinar: Education, advocacy and lobbying to improve asthma management.
- Wisconsin is a healthier place thanks to the Wisconsin smoke-free law. Workers and customers can now breathe cleaner air. Report a violation.
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Schooled in Asthma - Download asthma history form, action plan, school authorization form, dear doctor letter for school nurses and asthma encounter form.
- Asthma Inhaler Law - Public school students have the right to self-carry their rescue inhaler on their person.
- Asthma Inhaler Medication Form - Authorization form for students to carry their asthma inhaler at school.
- Cleaning for Asthma Safe Schools (CLASS): The Green Cleaning Toolkit.
- Milwaukee Public Schools asthma program – Videos, forms , kids section, parents section and more.
- School asthma training videos - Six short "rich media" presentations designed for various school staff.
- Working with schools to improve pediatric asthma management - Guidance for asthma care clinicians on how to enhance school-based asthma management.
- Anti-idling policies for schools – Information on how to implement an anti-idling program.
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools - comprehensive resource to help schools identify, correct and prevent IAQ problems.
- Indoor AIRepair™ - Explores the connection between indoor air quality and asthma. Offers low- and no-cost solutions for home, school and play.
- Integrated Pest Management in Schools – A strategic plan to reduce pest and pesticide-related hazards to children in the U.S. public schools by 2015.
- Michigan Healthy Schools Guide – Includes information on school bus idling reduction and pest management.
- No pet policy - Sample policy from Fond du Lac School District.
- School asthma training videos - Six short "rich media" presentations designed for various school staff.
- Virtual school indoor air quality (IAQ) tour – Provides information on how IAQ impacts health, to maximize fresh air and minimize pollutants to create a healthier school.
- WAC School Walkthrough Program – A program designed to identify low and no-cost solutions to asthma triggers found in the school. School walkthrough report. School walkthrough checklist.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Education Programs - Activities, videos, guides and posters available for schools and classrooms.
- Wisconsin’s Green and Healthy Schools Program.
- Burden of Asthma in Wisconsin 2010 - Comprehensive statistical report about asthma in Wisconsin.
- Environmental Public Health Tracking – Ongoing surveillance and analysis of environmental hazards and disease data.
- The State of Childhood Asthma, United States, 1980-2005 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistical report.
- Work-Related Asthma in Wisconsin - Statistical report about asthma related to the workplace.
- Work-Related Asthma Union Survey Report - Results of Wisconsin union asthma survey.
- Definitions and Types of Work-related Asthma: A nosological approach – Published in Respiratory Journal, 2003.
- Future Advances in Work-related Asthma and the Impact on Occupational Health – Published in Occupational Medicine, 2005.
- Haz-Map - Links jobs and hazardous tasks with occupational diseases and their symptoms.
- Maximize Your Spirometry Screening and Surveillance Resources – Targeted toward employers and explains how spirometry can be used to establish a baseline before assigning a worker to specific job tasks.
- Occupational asthma and farming – Lists exposure hazards and patterns of exposure to allergens.
- Preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex in the workplace.
- Preventing asthma and death from diisocyanate exposure: A NIOSH Alert.
- Preventing asthma and death from MDI exposure during spray on truck bed liner and related applications.
- Preventing asthma in animal handlers: A NIOSH Alert.
- Primary Prevention of Occupational Asthma: Identifying and Controlling Exposures to Asthma-Causing Agents - Published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine in 2008.
- Protect Yourself-Spirometry Breathing Test – Targeted toward employees and explains the need for spirometry testing for employees who may inhale dusts, gases or other air contaminants in the workplace.
- The Prevention of Occupational Asthma – Includes searchable database of journal articles.