PULMEDIX
ASTHMA CARE CENTER & PFT LAB
8532 W. Capitol Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53222
Suite #201
8585 W. Forest Home Ave Greenfield, WI 53228 Suite #200
Ph: (414) 393-4002
Fax: (414) 393-4014
www.pulmedix.com
ASTHMA FACTS:
● Asthma is the most chronic disease among children under the age of 18
● Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism
● Asthma disproportionately affects low income, minority and inner city
populations
● The rate of asthma in America is 8-10%. In minority populations it is 25-33%.
● Minority children are hospitalized due to asthma at a greater rate than
non-minority children
● Asthma is the 3rd ranking cause of hospitalizations for all children
● Minority children die from asthma at a rate four times higher than non-minority
children
● The CDC has designated asthma as having reached epidemic proportions
● Epidemic proportions for asthma in the general population means crisis levels for
minority and low income individuals
● Chronic lung disease is the 4th leading cause of death for males in WI
These facts have held true for decades. The highest prevalence for asthma and the
worst possible outcomes perpetually exist in minority and low income individuals.
Extensive research into these phenomena reveals that environmental factors
associated with socioeconomic status and disparities in care are responsible for the
vast majority of these statistics.
There are associated mental and physical disorders as a result of having asthma as
a child. There is obesity as a result of a decreased exertional capacity that leads to
pediatric hypertension and diabetes. The psychological impact of asthma includes
anxiety from persistent respiratory difficulty and depression from inability to engage
in normal activities such as playing with other kids. Fluctuations between these two
states of mind could be rationalized as bipolar disorder and thus warrant
psychotherapeutic drug intervention.
PULMEDIX
ASTHMA CARE CENTER & PFT LAB
Unfortunately, despite our increasing knowledge of the pathophysiology of
childhood asthma as well as significant advances in medical therapies, the
prevalence of asthma, particularly in children, is increasing worldwide. These are
clearly diseases which are under-diagnosed and under-treated. Today there are four
general problem areas which deserve focus as we attempt to reduce asthma
morbidity and mortality.
1) Diagnosis: We are under diagnosing asthma. Improved health requires a
correct diagnosis in order to institute effective therapy. Undiagnosed asthma
is twice as expensive as diagnosed.
2) Under treatment: We are not utilizing proven, effective medications and
treatment programs which would maximize the health of individuals with
asthma.
3) Poor monitoring: We are not monitoring asthma well. We are not responding
to changes in a patient’s asthma condition quickly and efficiently enough.
Our studies at Pulmedix have discovered that about 80% of patients with
asthma cared for by primary care physicians were seen only for acute
exacerbations.
4) Education: We are not educating our patients sufficiently to change their
behavior so as to improve their health.
PULMEDIX
ASTHMA CARE CENTER & PFT LAB
The Pulmedix Asthma Care Center is the only independent, nonprofit asthma
program structured to address and overcome the multifactorial barriers that generate
the historically negative outcomes nearly exclusive to minority and low income
populations.
Pulmedix exist to improve the health and well-being of residents suffering with
asthma, COPD and associated lung diseases by providing the essential elements of
chronic disease management: testing, monitoring, medication planning and
education. We apply the educational component to patients, providers and other
referring entities and partners by addressing the barriers & co-morbid conditions that
patients from disadvantaged populations face. And, by advocating for best care
practice professionally and in the public policy arena, we are striving to address the
critical issues of a population that although traditionally are the highest medical
resource utilizers have still statistically the worst outcomes for their chronic
respiratory illnesses.
Join us in our battle to overcome the historically and perpetually poor outcomes of
this insidious disease and allow asthma sufferers in Milwaukee to see life in a new
light.
Sincerely,
Dorian James, RCP
Owner/Manager
Pulmedix Asthma Care Center