Media Resources: Media Kit
Initiatives of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology (AAAAI) has launched a number of initiatives to help improve the
diagnosis and treatment of allergic and immunologic disorders.
National Asthma Training Curriculum
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) chose the AAAAI to direct the creation of a standardized asthma training
curriculum for public health department staff and other professionals across the
country. The CDC has committed to fund a one-year program to assess the
educational needs and training tools currently available and create new
educational pieces where gaps exist. The AAAAI will produce a standard
curriculum on asthma, which will offer direction on topics such as epidemiology,
risk factors, physiology, diagnosis and management. Add-on modules will also be
created for topics related to certain audiences, with a focus on public health
workforce staff, school nurses, physical education coaches and teachers, and
state health department staff.
Managing Pediatric Asthma: Emergency Department
Demonstration Program
In an effort to turn the tide on the rising number
of asthma cases among children, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is working
with the AAAAI to develop and evaluate emergency department-based asthma patient
tracking programs. The Managing Pediatric Asthma: Emergency Department
Demonstration Program seeks to reduce emergency department visits,
hospitalizations and school absenteeism and improve the general well-being of
children with asthma.
Four sites have been selected to participate in
the three-year, $3.5 million program. They include pediatric care centers in
Honolulu, HI; Houston, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and Washington, DC. Each site, which
will develop unique tracking systems, will receive $875,000 to work with local
hospital emergency departments to collect data and institute educational
intervention programs. These programs will help develop models that can be
replicated throughout the country.
Academy CAN!
The prevalence of asthma in large metropolitan areas
of the United States is rising dramatically and inner city residents often lack
the access to consistent quality medical care. To combat this problem, the AAAAI
created Academy CAN! (Consulting Allergist Network), a program that places
participating allergists in underserved areas. These allergist/immunologists
work with healthcare professionals to consult on cases and to educate them on
the issues of best practice to improve the care to underserved populations.
National Allergy Bureau (http:/www.aaaai.org/nab)
The National Allergy Bureau is a non-profit pollen
and outdoor mold spore counting network certified through the AAAAI. The NAB
issues pollen and mold reports three times a week. The reports are available be
visiting the NAB Web site. In addition to pollen and spore counts, the NAB Web
site features information on tree, grass, weed and mold, which are common
seasonal outdoor allergy triggers. The Web site also provides answers to
frequently asked questions about allergies and pollen and a photo gallery
featuring depictions of common outdoor allergens.
For more information, visit
www.aaaai.org.
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