School-based Asthma Management Program implemented in Milwaukee, Kenosha

MILWAUKEE – Almost half of Wisconsin children with asthma have missed at least one day of school in the past year due to their asthma, according to the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin. In order to improve health and school-related outcomes for children with asthma, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) is now home to the School-based Asthma Management Program (SAMPRO).

Several southeastern Wisconsin organizations are collaborating on the implementation of SAMPRO with a goal to improve asthma care, especially for children in inner city Milwaukee and Kenosha. Southeastern Wisconsin SAMPRO is coordinated through the Wisconsin Asthma Coalition and Dr. Nicholas Antos, who serves as the medical director. Antos is a pediatric pulmonologist at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

“Improving health and school-related outcomes for children with asthma requires integrated care coordination among families, clinicians and school nurses,” Antos said. “SAMPRO standardizes recommendations for school-based asthma and provides useful resources for the care of asthmatic children in schools.”

Organizational partners consist of the American Lung Association in Wisconsin, Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Kenosha County Health Department, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Asthma Coalition and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Developed in collaboration with a variety of national stakeholders, SAMPRO is detailed in the September issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and endorsed by the Allergy and Asthma Network; American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; American Thoracic Society; and the National Association of School Nurses.