A team-based approach to providing asthma action plans

J Am Board Fam Med. 2012 Mar-Apr;25(2):247-9. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2012.02.110145.

Abstract

Background: National guidelines for treatment of asthma include recommendations for providing written asthma action plans (AAPs) to improve outcomes through patient self-management. However, AAP completion rates remain limited in practice.

Methods: We developed a team-based approach for the delivery of care to asthma patients in a primary care setting that involved integration of an electronic clinical quality management system and provision of written AAPs by registered nurses.

Results: The percentage of patients with AAPs increased after implementation of clinical reminders and nurse-led provision of written AAPs.

Conclusion: Proper training, use of an electronic clinical reminder system, and enhanced engagement of registered nurses can improve AAP completion rates in a team-based primary care setting.

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Asthma / therapy*
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Disease Management*
  • Electronic Health Records
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Humans
  • Interdisciplinary Communication*
  • Michigan
  • Patient Care Planning*
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration*
  • Physician Incentive Plans / organization & administration
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Quality Improvement / organization & administration
  • Reminder Systems
  • Self Care / methods
  • Total Quality Management / organization & administration