Government

The vision of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) asthma program is that “Minnesotans with asthma will have healthy environments and will be able to enjoy life not limited by their asthma because their asthma is appropriately managed and well controlled.” Our activities fall under seven goals: data and surveillance, environment, work-related asthma, self-management, communities, health professionals, and system change and include: • Minnesota specific data reports and fact sheets • Partnerships with the Minnesota Asthma Coalition, INHALE – a group of MDH employees, local public health agencies, and American Lung Association • Collaborating with local public health agencies, school nurses, providers and people with asthma or families of children with asthma. • A comprehensive resource & training manual for managing asthma in Minnesota schools • The Coach’s Asthma clipboard program - a free on-line program designed specifically for coaches, referees and physical education teaches focusing on what they should know about asthma. It can be accessed at www.winningwithasthma.org. • The interactive asthma action plan (IAAP) – an on-line and downloadable clinical decision-making tool. Clinicians can use the IAAP to document current symptoms, control levels, and treatment plans, while reducing time spent hand writing asthma action plans (AAP). • Collaboration with the MDH Environmental Health Division (EHD) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) to increase the number of people who receive electronic notifications of Air Quality Index Alerts. • In-home education and low-cost environmental intervention projects. We are currently working with local public health nurses who provide education on asthma medical management, assess the home environment, make low cost environmental interventions aimed at reducing potential asthma triggers, and communicate the child’s progress to the physician. Additional information on our programs can be found at www.health.state.mn.us/asthma.

The mission of the New Haven Health Department Asthma Prevention and Management Program is to reduce associated morbidity and mortality, reduce the number of lost days of work and absenteeism at school and improve quality of life for people with asthma in the greater New Haven area.

Research indicates that environmental factors serve as triggers for individuals at risk for developing asthma or for patients with asthma. There are many factors which can trigger asthma in an individual such as the following: Chronic dampness due to deteriorating housing, crowded urban dwellings, old broken appliances, excessive cold or scarce ventilation, dust, dust mites, cockroaches and rodent infestation; household pet dander, household chemicals, tobacco use, second hand smoke and pollen.

The New Haven Health Department’s Asthma program was developed to address these issues as they pertain to asthma as well as to focus on education, prevention and management of the disease. In the almost five years since its start, the program has generated several significant initiatives to achieve these ends.

Our Triggers be Gone program has provided hundreds of families with medical equipment and trigger reduction resources and has documented a reduction in emergency room use among those served.

Our promotion of the use of Asthma Action Plans has created the highest rate of acceptance among medical providers of any municipality in the area.

A partnership of area communities has launched a joint program – Putting on Airs – to identify difficult to manage asthma cases and conduct in-home environmental assessments.

Our ever expanding regional coalition has teamed up with Yale New Haven Hospital, the American Lung Association, Medicaid Managed Care organizations, pharmaceutical companies and area health care facilities to conduct extensive community education and awareness programs through a variety of venues.

As the program grows, our bond to the wider community is strengthened and residents of the Greater New Haven community are better able to feel the impact of the program.

EPA Region 6 provides grants to asthma organizations, educational materials, support, and coordination among Region 6 contacts