Community Health Partnership Clinic will
offer resources and supplies to help prepare families for the
upcoming school year, with a focus on asthma
education
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, experts from Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia's Center for Health
Equity, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, St.
Christopher's Hospital for Children and the School District of
Philadelphia gathered at a
community health partnership clinic and back-to-school event at the
Church of Compassion CDC in Philadelphia to provide local families
resources, supplies and asthma care information for a successful
school year.
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and the
primary reason that children miss school, go to emergency rooms,
and are admitted to hospitals. About 5 million American children
are estimated to have asthma. In Philadelphia, one in 4 children has
asthma.
"Asthma causes swelling, mucous production and squeezing of the
airways. With the right medication, and an asthma care plan, we can
control those airway changes," said Tyra
Bryant-Stephens, M.D. AVP, Chief Health Equity Officer and
Director and Founder of the Community Asthma Prevention Program at
CHOP. "We are seeing an increase in Emergency Department visits and
hospitalizations from children experiencing severe asthma attacks.
These are completely preventable, and we want to ensure that all
children are prepared to have a successful, and healthy, school
year."
"The Philadelphia Health Department wants you to know that there
are steps parents can take to keep a child's asthma controlled,
especially during back-to-school time. If your child is prescribed
a controller medicine, make sure they take it every day, even if
they don't feel sick. The goal of this type of medicine is to
prevent asthma attacks so it should be taken daily," said
Stacy Kallum, Director, Division of Maternal, Child, and
Family Health Philadelphia Department of Public Health. "We also
suggest removing common asthma triggers from the home; this could
mean not allowing any smoking inside, using dust-proof covers on
mattresses and pillows, washing stuffed animals."
"Make an appointment before school begins to prepare for a
successful year with asthma, and discuss any concerns with your
doctor or nurse," said Daniel R. Taylor, D.O., FAAP, FACOP,
Director Community Pediatrics and Child Advocacy at St.
Christopher's Hospital for Children. "Sometimes it is difficult to
get asthma medication prescribed. When that happens let your asthma
doctor/practitioner know about it immediately."
"The School District of Philadelphia wants to work with parents to
makes sure that school nurses have everything they need to take
care of children with asthma," said Kendra
B. McDow MD, MPH, FAAP, School System Medical Officer,
Office of Student Health Services, School District of Philadelphia. "Having the right medication and
medication administration forms allows the school nurse to partner
with families for a successful school year."
CHOP's Center for Health Equity and Community of Compassion CDC
jointly hosted the 3rd Back-to-School Community Health
Partnership Clinic to help families prepare for a successful school
year! At the event, CHOP gave away backpacks filled with school
supplies, providing sports physicals, dental screenings and
haircuts for children, and offering free sports equipment, books
and library cards on site. Community partners offered resources
including after school program information and emergency response
trainings.
CHOP's Center for Health Equity (CHE) seeks to discover,
implement and disseminate evidence-based practices and policies so
that every child in Philadelphia
has equitable care and opportunities to achieve their best health.
For more information, visit: chop.edu/asthma-resources
About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:
A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first
pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to
providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of
pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research
initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have
benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is
among the largest in the country. The institution has a
well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close
to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes
more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical
centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances
throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well
as the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated
pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia. In
addition, its unique family-centered care and public service
programs have brought Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for
children and adolescents. For more information,
visit https://www.chop.edu.
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SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia