Kirkwood part of CHAMP Partnership for asthma management project
Some health program students at Kirkwood Community College are part of a community wide effort to help young people with asthma. Second-year students in Kirkwood’s Respiratory Therapy program are sharing their expertise with a coalition of area health care providers to make positive changes in asthma care and management of the condition.
The work is part of the Linn County Asthma Reduction Coalition. The project is the Children’s Home Asthma Management Program (CHAMP). Participants in the program will receive education on asthma, including better understanding of the disease, ways to manage symptoms and improving the air quality and other trigger conditions in the home.
Home visits began in August and will continue through September 2008. The visits include a free indoor air quality inspection. This service usually involves a fee of about $75. Kirkwood students will assist in the program support and education as part of the college’s Service Learning initiative, giving students direct experience while supporting non-profit and community causes.
Other partners in the Linn County CHAMP program are St. Luke’s Hospital, Mount Mercy College, Mercy Medical Center, Linn County Public Health, the Healthy Linn Care Network and GlaxoSmithKline. The project is supported by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
There are still openings for families to participate in the program. More information on services and how to take part is available by calling 319-892-6022.