 |
|
|
|
 Emergency Department Visits for Asthma
Prevention
For optimal asthma management, health care providers, people with asthma, and their families must work together. With proper medication, reduction or elimination of exposure to triggers, and appropriate self-monitoring, the majority of ED visits for asthma can be avoided. When a patient's asthma does become so severe as to require an ED visit, it is as an opportunity for ED providers to discuss strategies to prevent future life-threatening attacks.
Discussion begun in the ED should be reinforced during a follow-up medical appointment within the next five days. The NAEPP Guidelines recommends that the ED notifies the patient's primary care provider (PCP) of the visit, and ensures that a follow-up outpatient appointment appointment is scheduled to occur within five days. Patients without PCP's should be referred to appropriate clinics, and given assistance with making an appointment. At the follow-up visit, the provider should review the patient's medications, spacer and inhaler technique, and assure that the patient has, and understands, an up-to-date asthma action plan.
|
|
|
