AATU's original goal was to educate patients, raise asthma awareness, improve patient quality of life and improve communication between patients and physicians. While the program reached many patients, Wittchen, who now serves as the AATU's nurse clinician, found the program wasn't reaching far enough. So, in 1996 she took the show on the road, literally. Armed with modest pharmaceutical company funding, Wittchen developed asthma teaching mobiles that could travel anywhere and serve asthmatics in remote locations. These vans are less formal than the clinic, she says, and their staff concentrate on clarifying misunderstandings, and alleviating worries and fears.
Patients can walk in and ask questions about their medication or treatment.
For many, the van is the home of their first spirometry test, or the place where they learn just how serious their disease is. One reason, she says, is that doctors don't always know all they should about asthma. But surprisingly, she says, she hasn't had any complaints from doctors. We use a great deal of tact and move slowly. We've managed not to break down any links to the physicians.