EPA RECOGNIZES WASHINGTON COUNTY ASTHMA
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
On February 8, 2007, the Washington County Public Health and Environment “Catching Our Breath” Initiative from Minnesota was one of six regional partners to receive a Partners for Asthma Action award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5. These awards are given to promising regional programs that haven’t met the criteria for a national award yet. Debby Lee of Washington County (2nd from left) accepted the award. She is pictured below with Erica Fishman of MDH and two EPA officials, Steve Rothblatt (left) and Dave Rowson (right).
EPA Region 5 also recognized four winners of EPA’s National Exemplary Award for asthma management programs: Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies, a hospital-based program in Wisconsin; Priority Health, a health plan company in Michigan; Genesee County Childhood Asthma Task Force, a county-based program in Michigan; and Asthma Alliance of Indianapolis, a county health department-based program in Indiana. The winners will serve as models for other asthma programs across the country.
The award winners were selected for their outstanding leadership, strong community ties, high performing collaborations and partnerships, work with health care providers, environmental interventions tailored to fit an individual’s health or education needs, and positive health outcomes for those they serve.
Asthma and Smoking
According to the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor survey, an ongoing telephone survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health in conjunction with the CDC, adults with asthma were more likely than those without asthma to report that they were smokers (24% versus 20%). Since 2000, smoking rates among adults with asthma have fluctuated, ranging from a low of 17% to a high of 26%.
Overall, the data suggest that adults with asthma are just as likely to smoke as those who do not have asthma. This is of concern because smoking can trigger asthma symptoms, and environmental tobacco smoke (also known as secondhand smoke) is known to exacerbate asthma and can cause asthma in young children.
New Minnesota COPD Coalition
The American Lung Association has formed a new coalition of professionals in health care and public health to address the needs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients and providers in Minnesota. The Minnesota COPD Coalition was announced at ALA’s second COPD Summit held on January 18, 2007. Forty-five attendees met to discuss and recommend a series of issues for coalition workgroups to tackle including:
- assessment and diagnosis
- policies to increase public awareness, surveillance and prevention efforts
- patient education on disease self-management goals and tools
- health plan coverage policies
- professional education, including spirometry skills in primary care practice treatment guidelines
The launching of this new coalition coincided with a recent announcement by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of a new national COPD public awareness campaign. The first meeting of the MN COPD Coalition leadership team is expected in March. ALA contacts are Jill Heins Nesvold, 651-223-9578 or Jill.Heins@alamn.org and Cheryl Sasse, 651- 227-8014 or cheryl.sasse@alamn.org
GOING SMOKE-FREE IN A COMMUNITY NEAR YOU!
By Erin Simmons
If you don’t already live in a smoke-free community, it’s likely that efforts are underway to pass a policy in your area. We are fortunate to have a comprehensive smoke-free policy in Mankato and are hard at work to pass an ordinance in North Mankato.
Having one ordinance under our belts, it’s clear that the only way this work can be done is through the work of volunteers and community advocates. While we hope that our State decision makers will pass a comprehensive law to protect all workers in Minnesota, we will continue to work at the local level untilall workers are protected.
Coalitions throughout Minnesota are working to pass, implement, and protect smoke-free workplace
policies. The role of the asthma community is critical in promoting the importance of smoke-free workplaces. Individuals who have or whose loved ones have asthma can have a significant impact on decision makers in their community. If you are interested in connecting with your local smoke-free efforts, contact your local public health office. The Minnesota Smoke Free Coalition provides contact information at: http://www.smokefreecoalition.org/local/contact/index.asp?sid=113&id=555&p=1or contact Erin Simmons at 507-381-8257 or erin.simmons@alamn.org
JUNIOR LEADERS FOR CAMP SUPERKIDS
Junior Leaders camp, July 8-13, 2007, is for teens ages 14-16 with asthma and who have previously attended camp, to participate in a leadership role with Camp Superkids. There will be an application process and applicants will be called for interviews in May 2007. Space is limited to 8 Junior Leaders.
Cost is $450 with some financial scholarships and some insurance plan coverage available.
For more information please contact the American Lung Association of MN, 651-227-8014.
E-mail: asthmacamps@alamn.org or go to: http://www.alamn.org.
Cost: $450 (financial scholarships and some insurance plans)
Camp Superkids, at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi near Loretto, MN,is a way for 8-13 year olds to learn about asthma self-managementin a fun, medically supervised summer camp setting. Activities include swimming, waterskiing, fishing, ropes course, archery and arts and crafts.
Turning the Tide in Tobacco Use in Minnesota
Smoking does not affect as many Minnesotans as it did in the 1990s. Those who once smoked and have quit smoking now out-number those who still use tobacco. Only one in five Minnesotans reported smokingin 2005. And though those who smoke overwhelmingly smoke every day, most would like to stop; in the past year one in two tobacco users reported going smoke-free for at least one day in an effort to quit. Minnesota is resource rich in cessation services, and tobacco quitline programs have a history of working together well in this state. All health plans that insure or enroll Minnesota Medicaid recipients must offer/cover smoking cessation treatment as a mandated benefit. Tobacco users who have no health insurance can access cessation counseling thru the QUITPLAN® Helpline, managed by ClearWay MinnesotaSM. The QUITPLAN® Helpline and some insurance plans also provide nicotine replacement patches, gum, or lozenges for smokers who enroll in the telephone counseling program. To promote these cessation resources, a card listing the toll-free phone numbers (by health plan) for all of Minnesota’s cessation counseling programs is available across the state. Broad marketing of cessation resources has garnered national attention. In December 2005, Pfizer named the Twin Cities number one in the country for smokers wanting to quit!
Late in 2004, federal health agencies were given a small appropriation by Congress to help even more
people stop using tobacco. The Office of Smoking and Health at CDC and the National Cancer Institute came together to stimulate development of a national network of tobacco cessation telephone counseling quitlines. The network started in early 2005 with a toll free phone line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for anyone to dial in order to find out how to access smoking cessation resources in their area of the country. That quitline network has grown tremendously; by August 2006 all 50 states offered some telephone counseling resources to residents who want to quit.
To be even more proactive in helping current smokers stop, the MDH has dedicated some of the CDC
quitline enhancement monies to create and then test a mechanism for doctors and nurses to quickly refer
smokers from medical clinics to the state’s quitline network. A one page referral sheet collects the smoker’s name, two telephone numbers, best contact time, preferred language for the telephone counseling, and health insurance coverage info, along with informed consent to share information between health plans, quitline contractors, and medical clinics.
This signed referral gets faxed to a single, central intake line, and, based on the presence or absence of
health insurance coverage, is passed along to the appropriate tobacco quitline. A cessation counselor then calls the smoker back, explains what services are available, and offers to enroll, at no added or out of pocket costs, those who are ready to quit tobacco in the next 30 days.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota staffed and funded a cooperative pilot venture between the seven
major Minnesota health plans, ClearWay MinnesotaSM, and MDH to test the fax referral process in 60
primary care and obstetrical clinics in 2005 and 2006. Pilot clinics generated nearly 2000 referrals in under 10 months time, and clinic participation has been slated for statewide expansion by July 2007.
Creation of a system of priority referral of smokers from clinics to quitlines can significantly impact the
environment for persons with asthma in Minnesota. Other states have found that on a physician’s advice, as many as 40% of those who smoke will agree to be referred to cessation services. It is presumed that this percentage will be even higher for smokers who live with someone who has asthma.
The clinics to quitlines no-cost fax referral will be coming soon to a clinic near you. To find out how you can participate or refer, contact the Tobacco Prevention and Control Unit at 651-201-3535, or Janice.sieger@health.state.mn.us.
Minnesota Asthma Coalition
(MAC) Update
The MAC is a statewide membership organization open to any person or organization committed to improving the lives of people with asthma in Minnesota. This includes people with asthma and their families, health professionals, businesses, community organizations, and schools.
The next quarterly steering committee meeting is March 20, 2007, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the American Lung Association in St. Paul. For membership and other information, please visit the Minnesota Asthma Coalition Website at http://www.mnasthma.org/mnasthma or contact the MAC Manager, Neisha Reynolds at 651-268-7616 or neisha.reynolds@alamn.org.
Regional asthma coalitions (RACs) exist throughout the state. Please see below for information about the one in your area.
RECENT MAC ACTIVITIES:
Metro (Metro MAC):
The metro region continues to work with the St. Francis School District as they implement their “Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative”.
Also, in January a triage nurse training was conducted for the Children’s Physician Network.
East Central (ECRAC):
In collaboration with the “Catching Our Breath” initiative of Washington County Public Health and Environment, a Pharmacist training was held on December 4, 2006.
Central Minnesota (CMRAC):
The coalitionpartnered with the Central Minnesota Smoke Free Communities “Smoke Free Night Out” event on March 6, 2007.
West Central (WCRAC):
It was a busy fall in the West Central Region with inhaler assessments done at schools in Pelican Rapids, Perham and Alexandria schools. Thanks to coalition members Vickie Habberman, Connie Graff and Ruth Tollefson for their assistance. In November an “Asthma Interventions for Busy Pharmacists” training was held in collaboration with Merit Care in North Dakota.
Southwest (SWRAC):
On January 18, 2007, in Willmar an ECFE Parent Asthma Class was held specifically geared for Hispanic parents, and a translator was present for those who were non-English speaking. The class focused on asthma basics including the anatomy of asthma, common triggers and allergens, common asthma medication, asthma action plans, and what actions to take in an asthma emergency. Participants took home folders of information that they could share with other parents in their community. Dr. Amy Ellingson presented three asthma-related lectures and asthma updates to about 45 area physicians at the Annual Minnesota Rural Health Coop Conference held in Granite Falls on January 19, 2007.
South Central (SCRAC):
This region has welcomed Alison Fradenburgh as the new regional coordinator. Alison has been a very active member of the coalition and brings to the position her passion about asthma.
Southeast (SERAC):
Jackie Heying, CNP, AE-C speaks with two child care providers at a recent Caring for Kids with Asthma training for Goodhue County child care providers, thirty-six home and center child care providers attended the training in Red Wing. Jackie is chair of the Southeast MN Asthma Coalition and a CNP at Mayo Clinic Pediatric Asthma, Allergy and Immunology.
UPCOMING MAC EVENTS:
West Central (WCRAC): Connie Graff will be presenting the “Caring for Kids with Asthma” program at Bemidji State University on March 15 and at a day care provider forum on March 16. Planning has begun for other “Caring for Kids with Asthma” programs and for Super Asthma Saturday in Alexandria next fall. The next regional meeting will be March 22, 2007, from 12 noon to 1 PM at Douglas County Public Health or by teleconference. Planning for World Asthma Day will occur at that meeting. For more information contact: Doreen Hanson at 320-762-3043 or
doreen.hanson@mail.co.douglas.mn.us.
Southwest (SWRAC):
On March 6, 2007 in Granite Falls there will be a Nurse’s Asthma Update; morning and afternoon sessions will be offered.
Also on Saturday, March 31, 2007 there will be a Willmar Area YMCA Health Kids Day, which will include information on asthma. In May 2007, an “ Asthma Lunch and Learn Session” is tentatively scheduled for Redwood Falls. For more information about these events or the coalition, contact Amy Roggenbuck at 320-558-2471 or aaroggen@farmerstel.net.
South Central (SCRAC):
Please contact the new coordinator, Alison Fradenburgh, for information on this coalition. She can be reached at
alf@hickorytech.net or 507-327-5163.
Southeast (SERAC):
“Asthma Basics” is being presented monthly to the elementary education school health course at Winona State University. About 65 students receive an overview per semester at the Winona campus and 30 students are in
the audience at Rochester campus during fall semester. The Rochester Salvation Army respiratory care clinic is slated to begin in April 2007. Informational meeting and trainings will be available in March. SERAC is assisting with
this endeavor. For more information contact Judy Wothke at 507-453-0714 or jwothke@hbci.com. Please visit the web site: http://www.mnasthma.org/mnasthma/.
East Central (ECRAC):
The coalition is seeking new members to help them plan and implement activities. For more information, contact Kathy Burski at 320-679-6438 or Kathryn.Burski@co.kanabec.mn.us.
Central Minnesota (CMRAC):
The coalition is assessing the need for a spirometry training in St. Cloud in May. For more information contact Kathleen Milligan at 320-253-6011 or milliganala@aol.com.
Northeast (NERAC):
The Pharmacist Training update, “Asthma Interventions for Busy Pharmacists” is scheduled for Thursday, March 15, 2007, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at St. Mary’s Hospital-Auditorium. Information is on web site at: http://www.mnasthma.org/mnasthma/NERAC/NERACPharmacbrochureMarch1507.pdf
For more information, contact Lori Saari RN, LSN, NE Asthma Coalition Coordinator at 218-391-3942 or saarid@aol.com.
Metro (Metro MAC):
The next coalition meeting will be held on March 26, 2007 at 6:00 PM. For more information contact the MAC Manager, Neisha Reynolds at 651-268-7616 or neisha.reynolds@alamn.org.
Northwest (NWRAC):
If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a coordinator for this region, please contact Erica Fishman at 651-201-5899 or Erica.Fishman@health.state.mn.us. Until a coordinator is hired, please contact Amy
Roggenbuck at 320-568-2471 or aaroggen@farmerstel.net.
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