Allergy and Immunology- Asthma and Pulmonary
Program - Audiology- Pediatric
Hearing Center - BRIDGES: A Center for
Grieving Children - Cancer
- Center for Childhood
Safety - Child Abuse Intervention
- Child Life Services
- Community Medical Care for
Children - Craniofacial and Plastic
Surgery - Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
- Diabetes and Endocrine
Clinic - Emergency Care
- Encopresis and
Constipation Clinic - Gastroenterology Clinic
- Genetics Clinic
- Gift Shop
- Heart
- Infusion Clinic
- Infusion and Specialty
Services - Inpatient Pediatric
Services - Maxillofacial Review Board
- Medical-Surgical Unit
- Mobile Immunization Clinic
- Neonatal Follow-up Clinic
- Nephrology and
Hypertension - Neuro-developmental
Program - Neurology
- Neurosciences
- Occupational Therapy
- Ophthalmology Clinic
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Psychology
- Pharmacy Services
- Physical Therapy
- Pediatric Intensive Care
Unit - Sedation Services
- Sleep Disorders Clinic
- Social Work Services
- Surgical Services
- Voiding Improvement
Program - Women, Infants and
Children Clinic (WIC)
Asthma Education Program
Asthma: How to Cope with this Chronic Condition
Education Makes a Big DifferenceStudies have shown that teaching asthma self-management skills to children and families can reduce hospitalization and decrease ER visits. Mary Bridge offers an individualized education program for children with asthma and their families. Mary Bridge has one of the nation’s lowest readmission rates for asthma patients.
How does the program work?
The program is aimed at parents who care for children with asthma. Children who are 10 years old or older are encouraged to attend as well. Families attend one three-hour session. Follow-up is provided by phone as well as through the primary physician’s office. Asthma education classes are available by appointment. To schedule a class time, call the Outpatient Department at Mary Bridge Children’s Health Center at 253-403-3131.
What will the family learn?
The asthma education curriculum covers such topics as: normal and abnormal lung function, the signs and symptoms of asthma, asthma medications, environmental irritant control measures, prevention and treatment of exacerbations. All families leave with a personalized, age-appropriate "Asthma Action Plan," which also will be provided to the primary care physician. The information covered by the curriculum was gathered from the American Lung Association, the National Institute of Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, current medical literature and local pulmonary specialists.
The objectives of the course:
- To increase the family’s knowledge about the pathophysiology of asthma
- To teach the family and child how to assess respiratory status
- To help the family and child fully understand how, when and why to use prescribed medications
- To teach how to use specialized equipment, such as nebulizers, inhalers, spacers and peak flow meters
- To help families problem-solve with schools or care providers, which will help maximize the child’s participation in normal childhood activities
To schedule a class, call the Outpatient Department at Mary Bridge Children’s Health Center at 253-403-3131.