WVAC: Schools and Pediatrics Subcommittee 2008-2009 Activity Year 

 

The Schools and Pediatrics committee recently implemented a quality improvement project targeting asthma control by collaborating with school nurses, school-based health centers (SBHCs), parents and providers to strengthen student asthma care. School nurses and SBHCs conduceted an intervention with students who carry inhalers by measuring their asthma control, tracking school absences, providing education and referral to primary care providers based on the NHLBI Asthma Guidelines. The priority counties included in this project were:  Fayette and Raleigh.

 

By acquiring three data collections per student over one year, the desired outcome was to have improved asthma control, decreased absences related to asthma, recognized care plan and improved collaboration between schools, parents and providers. Pilot site coordinators, along with county health departments, regional tobacco specialists, applicable staff and SBHCs were trained at the June 2008 Summer Institute. The training consisted of educating the participants on the asthma project with an overview of the roles and responsibilities of each pilot site.

 

A report was completed and submitted by the subcommittee in August 2009. 

 

 

Past News

• The WVAC recently held their fall meeting at the Ramada Inn in Morgantown, WV on November 18th. A complete account is listed in the Fall Edition of the Asthma Quarterly Report.

 

• The WVAC held it's 8th Annual Asthma Retreat at the Bridgeport Conference Center in WV on August 11th - 12th. The WV Asthma Education and Prevention Program and the WVAC unveiled the NEW Strategic Plan for Addressing Asthma in WV (you'll find it listed on the main page of this website). This State Plan will be the basis of planning and implementation of new goals and activities for the next 5 years! Also, this was the largest event and attendence to date! Thank you to all who participated! We look forward to a new year!

 

• The West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program and WVAC held a dinner honoring the first awardees of the Asthma Friendly School Award on June 9, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Express in Charleston. Thank You for your contribution.

 

• The West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program held the first ever Asthma Educator Preparation Course in West Virginia on May 14-15, 2009 in Charleston. The turn-out for this program was outstanding! Many Thanks to those that participated in the training and for the Association of Asthma Educators who provided the training! AEPP looks forward to having many newly Certified Asthma Educators in West Virginia providing quality care and education!

 

• The WVAC recognized and awarded the FIRST Asthma Friendly School Award to Meadow Bridge Elementary in May 2009!

 

• The most recent WVAC Quarterly Meeting was held on May 5th at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, WV from 11:00am until 3:30pm. For more information on this event please read the "Meeting Minutes" listed under the WV Asthma Coalition tab on this site.  

 

• World Asthma Day Celebration activities took place on May 4th 2009 at the Charleston Town Center in Charleston, WV. AEPP staff and Respiratory Therapists from Charleston Area Medical Center participated. The therapists performed peak flow measurements and spirometry testing for free. We had a great turn-out! Thank you to all who participated!  World Asthma Day Flyer  

 

• Asthma Awareness Day at the State Capitol in Charleston was celebrated on February 19th, 2009. We had a wonderful turn-out and had media coverage from two (2) local television stations showcasing the AEPP Program Manager discussing new asthma statistics and the burden of asthma in West Virginia. Also, the Asthma Awareness Day was noted in the State Journal and the Charleston Daily Mail.                                THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!!

 

Past Executive and Subcommittee Chairs: 2008-2009 year. 

The chairs were as follows:

President: Cecil Pollard

Vice President: Dr. Krista Capehart

Clinical Asthma Management Co-Chairs: Adam Baus and Heidi Putnam-Casdorph

Community Outreach and Education Chair: Deloris Wilder

Data Sharing Chair: Dr. Mary Emmett

Environment Chair:  Carrie Brainard

School and Pediatrics Co-Chairs: Paula Fields and Mary Grandon