HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
The Vision of the Arizona Asthma Coalition is to eliminate deaths from asthma in Arizona.
Hospitalizations and emergency room visits due to asthma are preventable when patients receive the appropriate primary care. Under treatment and inappropriate therapy are major contributors to asthma morbidity and mortality in the United States .
Primary care physicians, nurses, allergists, pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, health care plans, pharmacists and school nurses are all part of a team of caregivers who can improve the asthma care for people with asthma.
Based on the state of knowledge today, the National Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma provide the best algorithms for diagnosing and managing asthma. The guidelines are based on recommendations of the Expert Panel of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Through collaboration and partnerships with medical providers and health care organizations, the Arizona Asthma Coalition encourages the use of these guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.
National Asthma Guidelines Updated
New Approaches for Monitoring Asthma Control, Expanded Recommendations for Children
In 2012, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAAEP) issued revised clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. The guidelines emphasize the importance of asthma control and introduce new approaches for monitoring asthma. Updated recommendations for managing asthma include an expanded section on childhood asthma (with an additional age group), new guidance on medications, new recommendations on patient education in settings beyond the physician’s office and new advice for controlling environmental factors that can cause asthma symptoms.
Coordinated by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, NAEPP convenes an expert panel when there is sufficient science to warrant a rigorous, systematic review of the published medical literature to ensure that the asthma guidelines reflect the latest scientific advances.
Downloadable Guidelines:
- Asthma Care Quick Reference: Diagnosing and Managing Asthma
- National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
Certification
Get Certified as an Asthma Educator
The National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) exam is a voluntary testing program used to assess qualified health professionals' knowledge in asthma education. It is an evaluative process that demonstrates that rigorous education and experience requirements have been met. Certification is voluntary and is not required by law for employment in the field, although some agencies may use AE-C certification as a basis for employment, job promotions, salary increases or other considerations. |