Asthma Network
The Asthma Network initiative was launched at Children’s Hospital in December 2000 with a $2 million pledge from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The initiative aims to improve the delivery of healthcare for children with asthma; educate children and families about how best to manage asthma; promote asthma research; and measure the impact of the initiative on outcomes for children with asthma. There is no one point of entry into the network – children with asthma are seen in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, the allergy Section of the Division of Immunologic and Infectious Diseases, the Division of General Pediatrics, the Division of Emergency medicine, the four urban Primary Care Centers and the 27 Kids First pediatric and adolescent practices. The coordination of services is a crucial component of the mission to improve the delivery of care.
The Asthma Network initiative is guided by a steering committee composed of physicians and nurses representing a wide variety of medical specialties and practice locations. This committee coordinates care for children with asthma by studying the strengths of each clinical area that treats asthma patients, determining best practices and implementing standardized treatment plans that emphasize family education.