St. Mary's Hospital - Dean & St. Mary's Neighborhood Asthma Clinic

What is it?

The clinic helps break down barriers to access for asthma care by providing quality screening, diagnosis, education, and treatment, including free medication.

Who is it for?

Primarily low-income and uninsured residents who may not otherwise receive medical treatment for their asthma, or who only seek care in a crisis.

Why do they do it?

In the hospital's community health needs assessment, asthma was identified as one of the top issues in the county, where hospitalizations from asthma are higher than average, and 17.3 percent of youth grades 7 through 12 have asthma.

Impact

In 2011, the clinic served 811 patients, 94 percent of whom had no insurance. In outcomes surveys, a vast majority of repeat patients report that their asthma has improved or stayed the same since their last visit.

Contact: Steve Sparks
Director, Public Relations
Telephone: 608-258-6654
E-mail: steve_sparks@ssmhc.com