Enhancing Asthma Care Outcomes

After recognizing asthma as a major condition for many patients in the emergency department, St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital partnered with Hudson Valley Asthma Coalition to offer educational services to patients with asthma. The hospital's task force identified patients from ages 5-30 who have visited the emergency department two or more times with complaints about asthma. The task force offered:

• Education on asthma medications to both patients and health care providers to reduce unnecessary emergency department and inpatient visits
• Follow-up with a primary care doctor per the “Asthma Action Plan”
• Training and certification for health care providers on best practices of recognizing and treating asthma

Because of this partnership, the hospital was able to reduce readmission and unnecessary visits to the emergency department of asthma patients by 70 percent.

This case study is part of the HANYS Triple Aim series highlighting how New York hospitals are improving health, enhancing quality and reducing costs. Hospitals, nursing homes and home care agencies across New York state are pursuing the Triple Aim. In spite of fiscal constraints, its members are embracing the challenge of transforming health care and are implementing new and innovative approaches to delivery.