February 17, 2006

PHD, Dirne Get Help with Asthma Program from Advanced Benefits Insurance

Thanks to a generous donation from Advanced Benefits Insurance, uninsured or underinsured asthma sufferers in Kootenai County will be able to obtain asthma education and supplies at Dirne Community Health Center.

Advanced Benefits Insurance has donated $1,400 for the purchase of approximately 40 PEAK flow meters and 40 inhaler spacers. The supplies will be used in conjunction with an asthma education program at Dirne CHC funded by a special projects grant from the Idaho Asthma Prevention and Control Program.

Panhandle Health District is partnering with Dirne Community Health Center to provide asthma health care educational services and supplies to control asthma in both adults and children in Kootenai County.

Bonnie Held, R.N., a certified asthma educator from PHD, will provide asthma management education and supplies to uninsured or underinsured adults and children who use the Community Health Center. Care and proper use of the PEAK flow meter and the inhaler spacer and how to properly use asthma medications will be emphasized.

Asthma education allows patients to communicate more effectively with a health care provider, and improved asthma management helps keep complications from the disease in check. Proper asthma management also helps decrease emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays, thus lessening the burden of financial support from the community for low-income families.

A peak flow meter is a portable device that measures airflow in asthma sufferers. The individual blows into the device, and the resulting peak flow reading indicates how open the airways are, or how difficult it is to breathe.

Inhaler spacers improve delivery of inhaled asthma medication. Spacers help deliver a greater amount of medication directly into the lower airways, where it is intended to go, rather than into the throat.

Additional contacts:

Advanced Benefits Insurance - Mark Fisher, 664-3482

Dirne Community Health Center - Luke Malek, 292-0255