Among DAC's many activities are the development of a listing of patient education resources, a study of quality of asthma care in area emergency departments, and the development a series of radio spots to raise public awareness about asthma. Membership is being drawn from area school districts, local health plans, health care providers, and large employers in the area. Mid-MAC's standing committee structure includes Data, Awareness, Patient and Professional Education Committees. The group wished to develop a uniform message for asthma care in all facilities in Grand Rapids. Members include physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, pharmacologists, educators, and family members of children with asthma.
Speakers are available for presentations to school, health care, parent, and other community groups.
ARCC has developed a packet of materials for children with asthma, their families, and health care providers including information on asthma warning signs, peak flow dairies, triggers of asthma, use of and cleaning of inhalers and nebulizers, smoking cessation programs, asthma camps, social service information, and other information. This packet is designed to be used at all points of contact within the health care system to provide consistent asthma educational materials to pediatric asthma pateints and their families. Members of the preliminary group have been active in the Summit of Michigan Asthma Coalitions. The group was formed by a number of respiratory therapists and health care providers who had been developing asthma education and management protocols for their own medical centers and saw a need for region-wide coordination. TAC is currently reviewing asthma education materials to provide a tri-county wide listing of resources and materials for public schools, patient education, and other uses.