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Asthma is a chronic, incurable disease that can be life-threatening. Without proper medical care and control measures, asthma can significantly impact daily life for patients and their families. According to one national survey of patients diagnosed with asthma, 23 percent of those surveyed said they had missed school or work due to asthma, almost half had limited social or recreational activities, and about one-quarter had visited an emergency room for asthma treatment in the previous year. Asthma is frequently cited as the leading cause of school absenteeism for children, and is the number one reason children are brought to hospital emergency rooms. Baltimore has one of the nation's highest asthma rates. While the national prevalence rate for asthma in school-aged children is 7.5 percent, almost half of Baltimore City public schools have higher rates, with many schools reporting that 15 to 20 percent of students suffer from asthma. A child with asthma cannot be cured, but with proper treatment the disease can be kept under control, allowing children to remain in school and out of the emergency room. Studies have shown that asthmatic children receiving care by asthma specialists have an improved quality of life and less need for emergency treatment and hospitalizations. Unfortunately, for many low income children, specialty asthma care is often out of reach. The University of Maryland Breathmobile aims to bridge this gap by delivering specialty care to asthmatic children in their schools. The Breathmobile is a mobile asthma clinic that provides quality preventive health care and education to children suffering from asthma, delivering this care to children at their schools. Modeled on a very successful initiative in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Breathmobile targets Baltimore City public schools that have the highest rates of asthma, based on Baltimore City Health Department surveillance data. School nurses refer children with asthma to the Breathmobile, which is staffed by nurses and physicians who specialize in asthma care. These specialists assess and treat the children, ensuring that they are on appropriate medications, and educate both children and their parents about how to control the illness, including measures they can take at home to eliminate environmental conditions that can trigger asthma attacks. The Abell Foundation awarded two $50,000 grants, in 2004 and 2005, to support the Breathmobile. The Breathmobile delivers services to children at
21 schools and 10 Head Start centers, visiting each site every four
to six weeks, and treating an average of more than 100 children
per month. During the summer months, when children are out of school,
the Breathmobile visits recreation centers and other community sites
in an effort to ensure continuity of care throughout the year.
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