Giving Our Kids Air to Soar
by Stacye Magness
Erica Fricks noticed her 11-year-old daughter, Abbey, experiencing irregular breathing after being active for just a short period of time. “Abbey seemed to always have issues with sinuses and allergies, and we felt like her breathing didn’t sound like it should,” shared Erica. “Around that time, Abbey brought a flyer home from school regarding the CHRISTUS St. Michael Mobile Pediatric Asthma Program. Her father and I thought it would be a great opportunity to have her screened. The program was going to be at her school and free – it couldn’t hurt.”
Abbey and her mother scheduled an appointment with Chris Ritchie and Barbara (Barb) Brown, RN, with the Spirit of St. Michael Mobile Unit. “Abbey felt very comfortable with Chris and Barb,” Erica said. “She had seen them often at the school doing other screenings. Chris and Barb gathered her information and then performed the various screenings to determine if she had asthma. Wendy Gammon, NP, met with us following the screenings and informed us Abbey had asthma. She provided us with education and answered any questions we had.”
“Abbey now manages her asthma very well. She knows what triggers her attacks and knows when she needs treatments. The staff educated her thoroughly on why managing asthma is important, how to manage it and where to find more resources if needed,” Erica explained.
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System and the University of Texas Health Northeast in Tyler launched the Mobile Pediatric Asthma Program to work with the underserved pediatric population in 12 Texas counties in their respective service areas. The goal of the project is to implement a collaborative program of chronic disease management for children who have serious respiratory problems (asthma/allergies) in order to improve access to care and potentially prevent hospitalizations.
“Program participants who do not have a primary care provider will be referred as needed. Children receiving the screenings and breathing tests who already have a primary care provider will be referred back to their provider,” said Sue Johnson, Director of Advocacy and Community Planning.
Childhood asthma developed into a major public health concern with the prevalence of the disease increasing 74% among children, ages 5 to 14 years in the U.S. between 1980 and 1994. Asthma has been identified as the leading cause of school absenteeism.
Symptoms for asthma include coughing that is worse with exercise, inhaled allergens, weather changes, stress, and emotional outbursts; viral infections that go from nasal and throat involvement to a bad cough that lasts more than 10 days; wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness/pain, feeling tired or fatigued, needing or choosing to rest or sit out of fun activities, and missing school because of respiratory symptoms.
“My job as a school nurse is to promote health and wellness in the schools and insure students’ medical needs are addressed,” shared Stephanie Davis, RN, New Boston ISD school nurse. “The Mobile Pediatric Asthma Program has been very beneficial to students who were unaware they had asthma by screening them and directing them to the appropriate caregiver as well as appropriate medications.”
Does active play leave your child with abnormal shortness of breath or coughing? Does your child cough often at night? Does your child use their rescue inhaler more than once a week? If you answered yes to any of these questions the CHRISTUS St. Michael Mobile Pediatric Asthma Program can evaluate your child free of charge.
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System and Genesis PrimeCare will continue to offer free pediatric asthma screenings through the Mobile Pediatric Asthma Clinic for children between the ages of 5 – 18 throughout the summer. The Spirit of St. Michael and a specially trained staff, including a Nurse Practitioner, offer asthma screenings and breathing tests, personal asthma management plans, parent and child education as well as referral to community resources and facilitation of follow-up care as needed.
The program is offered at no charge to participants, but appointments are required and can be made by calling 903.748.8573.
“As a parent, if you have the slightest concern your child might have asthma, I highly suggest you call the Mobile Pediatric Asthma Program,” said Erica. “You do not want them to miss out on the joys of being a kid.”
Symptoms for asthma include coughing that is worse with exercise, inhaled allergens, weather changes, stress, and emotional outbursts; viral infections that go from nasal and throat involvement to a bad cough that lasts more than 10 days; wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness/pain, feeling tired or fatigued, needing or choosing to rest or sit out of fun activities, and missing school because of respiratory symptoms.
