Asthma Treatment

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommend the use of asthma reliever medications in children to effectively gain control of asthma attacks and reduce severity as quickly as possible. In accordance with the guidelines, all patients hospitalized at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland with a primary diagnosis of asthma should receive reliever medications.

Why We Meassure

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood condition in the nation and accounts for the highest number of admissions to our hospital.  Measuring the number of patients who receive reliever medication and corticosteroid medication during their hospitalization is an indication of how well patients are treated for an asthma attack.

Use of Reliever Medications for Asthma Patients
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How We Compare

The medical records of all patients hospitalized with asthma are reviewed to determine the number of patients who received reliever medication while in the hospital.  We consistently achieve our goal of 100% compliance with prescribing reliever medication to patients hospitalized for asthma. 

*Peer includes: Nationwide database of 40+ free standing Children’s Hospitals

What We Are Doing to Improve

Since asthma is a top quality priority, we will continue to insure consistent use of reliever medication for our patients. 

Use of Systemic Corticosteroid Medications for Asthma Patients
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The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommend the use of corticosteroid medication to effectively gain control of asthma attacks and reduce severity as quickly as possible.  With few approved exceptions, patients hospitalized at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland with a primary diagnosis of asthma should receive corticosteroid medications.

How We Compare

The medical records of all patients hospitalized for treatment of asthma are reviewed to determine the number who received corticosteroid medication while in the hospital.  We consistently achieve our goal of 100% compliance with prescribing corticosteroid medication to patients hospitalized for asthma.

     

*Peer includes: Nationwide database of 40+ free standing Children’s Hospitals

What We Are Doing to Improve

Since asthma is a top quality priority, we will continue to insure consistent use of corticosteroid medication for our patients.

Home Management Plan of Care for Asthma Patients
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The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended establishing a plan for maintaining control of asthma when at home.  All patients hospitalized at Children's Hospital Research Center Oakland with a primary diagnosis of asthma should receive an Asthma Home Management Plan of Care.

Why We Measure

For children, it is particularly important to involve both patient and caregiver in the education as participation in the plan for home care by both will provide the greatest opportunity to promote compliance with the treatment plan, control of asthma, and treatment of exacerbations in a safe and timely manner.

How We Rate

The medical records of all patients hospitalized with asthma are reviewed to determine that there is documentation of a fully completed Home Management Plan of Care.

             

How We Are Improving

While we consistently provide Home Management Plans of Care to our asthma patients, strict adherence to the documentation requirements has become a priority.  Recent focused efforts have resulted in a significant improvement in compliance. Since asthma is a top quality-priority, we will continue to insure consistent documentation of the Home Management Plan of Care until we reach our goal.

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