BREATHING SPACE
Respiratory Disease Newsletter
Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Division
Chronic Disease & Environmental Epidemiology Section
Volume 5, Number 1
March 2007
MAY is Asthma
Awareness Month!
EPA RECOGNIZES WASHINGTON COUNTY ASTHMA
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
May is national Asthma
Awareness Month, and May
1, 2007, is World Asthma
Day. Join organizations
around the world to raise
awareness of asthma and
ways to reduce the burden
of asthma during Asthma
Awareness Month. This
year’s theme, set by the
Global Initiative for Health
(GINA), is “You Can Control Your Asthma.” Some
of the activities planned in
Minnesota for this month
are listed on Page 3. You
can also find out more by
going to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) link for World
Asthma Day
http://www.epa.gov/asthma/
awm.html
On February 8, 2007, the Washington County Public Health and Environment
“Catching Our Breath” Initiative from Minnesota was one of six regional
partners to receive a Partners for Asthma Action award from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5. These awards are given to
promising regional programs that haven’t met the criteria for a national award
yet. Debby Lee of Washington County (2nd from left) accepted the award.
She is pictured below with Erica Fishman of MDH and two EPA officials,
Steve Rothblatt (left) and Dave Rowson (right).
What’s Inside?
• Susan Ross Receives National
Award
• Asthma and Smoking
• New Minnesota COPD Coalition
• Going Smoke Free in a
Community Near You!
• Junior Leaders For Camp
Superkids!
• Turning the Tide in Tobacco Use
in Minnesota
• MN Asthma Coalition Activities
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EPA Region 5 also recognized four winners of EPA’s National Exemplary
Award for asthma management programs: Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies, a
hospital-based program in Wisconsin; Priority Health, a health plan company
in Michigan; Genesee County Childhood Asthma Task Force, a county-based
program in Michigan; and Asthma Alliance of Indianapolis, a county health
department-based program in Indiana. The winners will serve as models for
other asthma programs across the country.
The award winners were selected for their outstanding leadership, strong
community ties, high-performing collaborations and partnerships, work with
health care providers, environmental interventions tailored to fit an
individual’s health or education needs, and positive health outcomes for those
they serve.
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March 2007
Marvh 2007
Asthma and Smoking
Susan Ross
Receives National
Award
Susan Ross, RN, AE-C, has
been selected by the National
Association of Chronic
Disease Directors (NACDD)
to receive the 2007 Award for
Excellence in the Prevention
and Control of Chronic
Disease. The award is given
“for distinguished service and
the advancement of knowledge and practice in reducing
the chronic disease burden.” It
is presented annually to one
individual in the field of
public health. Susan was
recognized for her contributions in developing the interactive asthma action plan, in
developing the asthma school
manual and conducting the
asthma trainings for school
personnel, and in developing
the asthma online program for
coaches, “Winning With
Asthma.” Susan will receive
the award in Atlanta on March
14 at the NACDD Annual
Meeting. She is very deserving of this recognition, and we
are extremely proud of her!
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Source: Minnesota Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance System
According to the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor survey, an ongoing telephone
survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health in conjunction with the
CDC, adults with asthma were more likely than those without asthma to report
that they were smokers (24% versus 20%). Since 2000, smoking rates among
adults with asthma have fluctuated, ranging from a low of 17% to a high of 26%.
Overall, the data suggest that adults with asthma are just as likely to smoke as
those who do not have asthma. This is of concern because smoking can trigger
asthma symptoms, and environmental tobacco smoke (also known as secondhand
smoke) is known to exacerbate asthma and can cause asthma in young children.
New Minnesota COPD Coalition
The American Lung Association has formed a new coalition of professionals in
health care and public health to address the needs of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease patients and providers in Minnesota. The Minnesota COPD
Coalition was announced at ALA’s second COPD Summit held on January 18,
2007. Forty-five attendees met to discuss and recommend a series of issues for
coalition workgroups to tackle including:
· assessment and diagnosis
· policies to increase public awareness, surveillance and prevention efforts
· patient education on disease self-management goals and tools
· health plan coverage policies
· professional education, including spirometry skills in primary care
practice
· treatment guidelines
The launching of this new coalition coincided with a recent announcement by the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of a new national COPD public awareness campaign. The first meeting of the MN COPD Coalition leadership team is
expected in March. ALA contacts are Jill Heins Nesvold, 651-223-9578 or
[email protected] and Cheryl Sasse, 651- 227-8014 or
[email protected]
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March 2007
GOING SMOKE-FREE IN A COMMUNITY NEAR YOU!
By Erin Simmons
If you don’t already live in a smoke-free community, it’s likely that efforts are underway to pass a policy
in your area. We are fortunate to have a comprehensive smoke-free policy in Mankato and are hard at
work to pass an ordinance in North Mankato.
Having one ordinance under our belts, it’s clear that the only way this work can be done is through the
work of volunteers and community advocates. While we hope that our State decision makers will pass a
comprehensive law to protect all workers in Minnesota, we will continue to work at the local level until
all workers are protected.
Coalitions throughout Minnesota are working to pass, implement, and protect smoke-free workplace
policies. The role of the asthma community is critical in promoting the importance of smoke-free workplaces. Individuals who have or whose loved ones have asthma can have a significant impact on decision makers in their community. If you are interested in connecting with your local smoke-free efforts,
contact your local public health office. The Minnesota Smoke Free Coalition provides contact information at: http://www.smokefreecoalition.org/local/contact/index.asp?sid=113&id=555&p=1
or contact Erin Simmons at 507-381-8257 or [email protected]
Wanted: Asthma Camp
Superkids Nurses and
Respiratory Therapists!
Join an awesome team of health
professionals in medicine, nursing,
respiratory and pharmacy for the
American Lung Association of MN’s
Asthma Camp Superkids July 8-13,
2007! Full and part-time positions
are available. CEUs included. Please
contact Stephanie Kimmes, CPNP,
AE-C at 612-986-5699 for more
information.
Please promote asthma camp to
children ages 8-13 and teens 14-16
who have been to asthma camp
before and want to be a Junior
Leader. To obtain camper brochures,
please download online at
http://www.alamn.org/mn/camp/
07KidsLeadersBrochure.pdf
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JUNIOR LEADERS FOR CAMP SUPERKIDS
Junior Leaders camp, July 8-13, 2007, is for teens ages 14-16
with asthma and who have previously attended camp, to participate in a leadership role with Camp Superkids. There will
be an application process and applicants will be called for
interviews in May 2007. Space is limited to 8 Junior Leaders.
Cost is $450 with some financial scholarships and some insurance plan coverage available.
For more information please contact the American Lung Association of MN, 651-227-8014. E-mail:
[email protected] or go to www.ALAMN.org
Cost: $450 (financial scholarships and some insurance plans)
Camp Superkids, at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi near Loretto, MN,
is a way for 8-13 year olds to learn about asthma self-management in a fun, medically supervised summer camp setting.
Activities include swimming, waterskiing, fishing, ropes
course, archery and arts and crafts.
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March 2007
Turning the Tide in Tobacco Use in Minnesota
Smoking does not affect as many Minnesotans as it did in the 1990s. Those who once smoked and have
quit smoking now out-number those who still use tobacco. Only one in five Minnesotans reported smoking
in 2005. And though those who smoke overwhelmingly smoke every day, most would like to stop; in the
past year one in two tobacco users reported going smoke-free for at least one day in an effort to quit.
Minnesota is resource rich in cessation services, and tobacco quitline programs have a history of working
together well in this state. All health plans that insure or enroll Minnesota Medicaid recipients must offer/
cover smoking cessation treatment as a mandated benefit. Tobacco users who have no health insurance can
access cessation counseling thru the QUITPLAN® Helpline, managed by ClearWay MinnesotaSM. The
QUITPLAN® Helpline and some insurance plans also provide nicotine replacement patches, gum, or
lozenges for smokers who enroll in the telephone counseling program. To promote these cessation resources, a card listing the toll-free phone numbers (by health plan) for all of Minnesota’s cessation counseling programs is available across the state. Broad marketing of cessation resources has garnered national
attention. In December 2005, Pfizer named the Twin Cities number one in the country for smokers wanting
to quit!
Late in 2004, federal health agencies were given a small appropriation by Congress to help even more
people stop using tobacco. The Office of Smoking and Health at CDC and the National Cancer Institute
came together to stimulate development of a national network of tobacco cessation telephone counseling
quitlines. The network started in early 2005 with a toll free phone line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-7848669) for anyone to dial in order to find out how to access smoking cessation resources in their area of the
country. That quitline network has grown tremendously; by August 2006 all 50 states offered some telephone counseling resources to residents who want to quit.
To be even more proactive in helping current smokers stop, the MDH has dedicated some of the CDC
quitline enhancement monies to create and then test a mechanism for doctors and nurses to quickly refer
smokers from medical clinics to the state’s quitline network. A one page referral sheet collects the smoker’s
name, two telephone numbers, best contact time, preferred language for the telephone counseling, and
health insurance coverage info, along with informed consent to share information between health plans,
quitline contractors, and medical clinics.
This signed referral gets faxed to a single, central intake line, and, based on the presence or absence of
health insurance coverage, is passed along to the appropriate tobacco quitline. A cessation counselor then
calls the smoker back, explains what services are available, and offers to enroll, at no added or out of
pocket costs, those who are ready to quit tobacco in the next 30 days.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota staffed and funded a cooperative pilot venture between the seven
major Minnesota health plans, ClearWay MinnesotaSM, and MDH to test the fax referral process in 60
primary care and obstetrical clinics in 2005 and 2006. Pilot clinics generated nearly 2000 referrals in under
10 months time, and clinic participation has been slated for statewide expansion by July 2007.
Creation of a system of priority referral of smokers from clinics to quitlines can significantly impact the
environment for persons with asthma in Minnesota. Other states have found that on a physician’s advice, as
many as 40% of those who smoke will agree to be referred to cessation services. It is presumed that this
percentage will be even higher for smokers who live with someone who has asthma. The clinics to quitlines
no-cost fax referral will be coming soon to a clinic near you. To find out how you can participate or refer,
contact the Tobacco Prevention and Control Unit at 651-201-3535, or [email protected].
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March 2007
members Vickie Habberman, Connie Graff and Ruth
Tollefson for their assistance. In November an
“Asthma Interventions for Busy Pharmacists” training
was held in collaboration with Merit Care in North
Dakota.
Minnesota Asthma Coalition
(MAC) Update
Southwest (SWRAC): On January 18, 2007, in
Willmar an ECFE Parent Asthma Class was held
specifically geared for Hispanic parents, and a translator was present for those who were non-English
speaking. The class focused on asthma basics including the anatomy of asthma, common triggers and
allergens, common asthma medication, asthma action
plans, and what actions to take in an asthma emergency. Participants took home folders of information
that they could share with other parents in their community.
The MAC is a statewide membership organization open to any person or organization committed to improving the lives of people with asthma
in Minnesota. This includes people with asthma
and their families, health professionals, businesses, community organizations, and schools.
The next quarterly steering committee meeting is
March 20, 2007, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the
American Lung Association in St. Paul. For
membership and other information, please visit
the Minnesota Asthma Coalition Website at
www.mnasthma.org or contact the MAC Manager, Neisha Reynolds at 651-268-7616 or
[email protected]
Dr. Amy Ellingson presented three asthma-related
lectures and asthma updates to about 45 area physicians at the Annual Minnesota Rural Health Coop
Conference held in Granite Falls on January 19, 2007.
Regional asthma coalitions (RACs) exist
throughout the state. Please see below for
information about the one in your area.
South Central (SCRAC): This region has welcomed
Alison Fradenburgh as the new regional coordinator.
Alison has been a very active member of the coalition
and brings to the position her passion about asthma.
RECENT MAC ACTIVITIES:
Metro (Metro MAC):
The metro region continues to work with the St.
Francis School District as they implement their
“Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative”.
Southeast (SERAC):
Also, in January a triage nurse training was
conducted for the Children’s Physician Network.
East Central (ECRAC): In collaboration with
the “Catching Our Breath” initiative of
Washington County Public Health and
Environment, a Pharmacist training was held on
December 4, 2006.
Central Minnesota (CMRAC): The coalition
partnered with the Central Minnesota Smoke
Free Communities “Smoke Free Night Out”
event on March 6, 2007.
Jackie Heying, CNP, AE-C speaks with two child care
providers at a recent Caring for Kids with Asthma
training for Goodhue County child care providers,
thirty-six home and center child care providers attended the training in Red Wing. Jackie is chair of the
Southeast MN Asthma Coalition and a CNP at Mayo
Clinic Pediatric Asthma, Allergy and Immunology.
West Central (WCRAC): It was a busy fall in
the West Central Region with inhaler assessments done at schools in Pelican Rapids, Perham
and Alexandria schools. Thanks to coalition
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March 2007
The Rochester Salvation Army respiratory
care clinic is slated to begin in April 2007.
Informational meeting and trainings will be
available in March. SERAC is assisting with
this endeavor.
UPCOMING MAC EVENTS:
For more information contact Judy Wothke at
507-453-0714 or [email protected]. Please
visit the web site: www.mnasthma.org
West Central (WCRAC): Connie Graff will be
presenting the “Caring for Kids with Asthma”
program at Bemidji State University on March 15
and at a day care provider forum on March 16.
Planning has begun for other “Caring for Kids
with Asthma” programs and for Super Asthma
Saturday in Alexandria next fall. The next
regional meeting will be March 22, 2007, from 12
noon to 1 PM at Douglas County Public Health or
by teleconference. Planning for World Asthma
Day will occur at that meeting.
For more information contact: Doreen Hanson at
320-762-3043 or
[email protected]
East Central (ECRAC): The coalition is
seeking new members to help them plan and
implement activities. For more information,
contact Kathy Burski at 320-679-6438 or
[email protected]
Central Minnesota (CMRAC): The
coalition is assessing the need for a
spirometry training in St. Cloud in May. For
more information contact Kathleen Milligan
at 320-253-6011 or [email protected]
Southwest (SWRAC): On March 6, 2007 in
Granite Falls there will be a Nurse’s Asthma
Update; morning and afternoon sessions will be
offered. See http://www.medi sota.org/
Education%20Brochures/Asthma.pdf for more
information. Also on Saturday, March 31, 2007
there will be a Willmar Area YMCA Health Kids
Day, which will include information on asthma. In
May 2007, an “ Asthma Lunch and Learn Session”
is tentatively scheduled for Redwood Falls.
For more information about these events or the
coalition, contact Amy Roggenbuck at 320-5582471 or [email protected]
Northeast (NERAC): The Pharmacist
Training update, “Asthma Interventions for
Busy Pharmacists” is scheduled for Thursday,
March 15, 2007, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at St.
Mary’s Hospital-Auditorium. Information is
on web site at: http://www.mnasthma.org/
mnasthma/NERAC/
NERACPharmacbrochureMarch1507.pdf
For more information, contact Lori Saari RN,
LSN, NE Asthma Coalition Coordinator at
218-391-3942 or [email protected]
Metro (Metro MAC): The next coalition
meeting will be held on March 26, 2007 at
6:00 PM. For more information contact the
MAC Manager, Neisha Reynolds at 651-2687616 or [email protected]
South Central (SCRAC): Please contact the new
coordinator, Alison Fradenburgh, for information
on this coalition. She can be reached at
[email protected] or 507-327-5163
Northwest (NWRAC): If you know of
anyone who might be interested in becoming
a coordinator for this region, please contact
Erica Fishman at 651-201-5899 or
[email protected]. Until a
coordinator is hired, please contact Amy
Roggenbuck at 320-568-2471 or
[email protected]
Southeast (SERAC): “Asthma Basics” is being
presented monthly to the elementary education
school health course at Winona State University.
About 65 students receive an overview per semester at the Winona campus and 30 students are in
the audience at Rochester campus during fall
semester.
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6
March 2007
MAY
is
Asthma
Awareness Month!
BREATHING SPACE
For more information, or to
request this material in another
format contact: Janis Smith at
651-201-5909 or
[email protected]
MN Relay Service TDD: 1-800627-3528
To receive this newsletter electronically, go to:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/
divs/hpcd/cdee/asthma/
Newsletter.html, and click on
Subscribe to Breathing Space.
Editor
Janet Keysser, MA, MBA
Production
Janis Smith
Commissioner of Health
Dianne Mandernach
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September 20041
BREATHING SPACE, a quarterly respiratory disease newsletter, is produced by
the Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program. The purpose of this
newsletter is to provide health professionals, school nurses, and community
members with current research, information, and resources on respiratory disease.
This newsletter is supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement
#U59/CCU522470 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the official views of the CDC.
Questions about lung health?
Call 1-800-548-8252
American Lung Association Call Center
MDH Asthma Staff Contact Information:
Asthma Program Telephone Number: 651-201-5909
Toll Free Number: 1-877-925-4189
Asthma Web Site: http://www.health.state.mn.us/asthma/
Wendy Brunner, 651-201-5895, email: [email protected]
Erica Fishman, 651-201-5899, email: [email protected]
Janet Keysser, 651-201-5691, email: [email protected]
Laura Oatman, 651-201-5914, email: [email protected]
Susan Ross, 651-201-5629, email: [email protected]
Janis Smith, 651-201-5909, email: [email protected]
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March 2007