Answers provided by Francene Lifson, Executive Director of the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America

1) What is the name of the asthma mobile program in your city?

Four Breathmobiles are in operation in the greater Los Angeles area.

2) When was it established?

The first AAFA (Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America) Breathmobile rolled into service on November 16, 1995.

3) How and why was it established?

The rising morbidity and mortality rates of asthma in high-risk disadvantaged children was of tremendous concern. Out of that concern and under the leadership of Craig Jones, M.D. of Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California Medical Center (LAC+USC), AAFA developed the concept of a school-based mobile unit for asthma treatment, education and evaluation.

4) Who is served by the program?

The Breathmobiles bring ongoing quality health care to children and families that might otherwise go without care or would only receive service in emergency rooms with acute asthma episodes.

5) How does the mobile program work in your city -- where does it go and when, and how does your team publicize the routes?

The Breathmobiles go to approximately 120 schools throughout Los Angeles on a schedule of about every six weeks. On board is a board-certified allergist, a registered nurse, a respiratory therapist and a financial service worker.

We are bringing specialty care to these children that ranges from diagnosis to treatment to education. We also develop an asthma treatment plan that is shared with the school nurse and family. It’s really a comprehensive medical service.

School personnel help identify the children who need to be seen on the Breathmobile—a lot of it is based on school absences, if they know about emergency room treatments that the child has had. Often, the school nurse schedules the appointments for the Breathmobile. We work very closely with the Los Angeles school nurses.

6) How do parents and kids find out about the services offered?

AAFA has a schedule for each month, and many times people call in to our free number—1-800-624-0044—to get updates.

7) How are the services funded?

The services are free to the patients. We were originally funded through private foundations and groups who donated money. We now have an arrangement in Los Angeles where we have a contract with the University of Southern California Medical Center (LAC+USC) to operate the clinics. AAFA handles the PR and fiscal management.

8) What gaps does this program fill in your city?

There are a lot of children who are uninsured and under-diagnosed who have been treated by the Breathmobile clinics. Also, many kids of the kids we see are treated by providers who don’t provide a lot of education about asthma management. So, the program really fills in that gap for children who otherwise don’t have appropriate specialty care.

9) How many kids are served by your program?

Approximately 1,000 kids per Breathmobile per year are served.

10) How is your program affecting the kids you serve?

With the data we’ve collected, we see that there are less missed days of school and fewer visits to the emergency room for children who are enrolled in the program.