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There is nothing more to send a child to a hospital than asthma.
So when doctors at the Boston Children's Hospital noticed that they were constantly seeing an unusually large number of children with asthma from some low-income groups
The income community, they want to know if they can do something about the environment in which these children live. It's well-
As we all know, asthma attacks are caused by pests such as dust, mold, mice and cockroaches, polluted air and other environmental deterioration.
To help parents get rid of these triggers, the Children's Hospital has developed a community asthma initiative.
The plan first identified regulars --
Children who often have asthma attacks in hospital emergency rooms.
Many of them were repeatedly admitted to hospital for asthma control.
Then the project staff contacted the parents.
"This is a teachable moment," said Dr. project director . "
Elizabeth Woods
"It's a time when a family is very willing to do something new and different to help their children stay away from the hospital.
"The next step is a home visit by a community health worker like Maggie Lorenzo, who recently visited Maria texsella --
Gomez in Dorchester, a block from Boston. Gomes' 5-year-
Son Matheo has asthma almost all his life.
After he was hospitalized last fall, she agreed to accept help from Lorenzo to identify and eliminate things that constantly trigger his asthma attacks in her home.
This is Lorenzo's third visit to the Gomez family.
A small and tidy house with a view of the skyline of Boston.
"We're going to check the trigger like the first and second time to see what changes you 've made at home," says Lorenzo, two women settle down on the kitchen table, there is an air purifier buzzing at the nearby counter.
Gomez said she made a lot of changes.
"We have HEPA-
Filter the vacuum, which is what I use to dust and vacuum the house, "says Gomez.
"When [I try to vacuum]Matheo]is at school.
Gomes, a social worker, said she had stopped using an indoor deodorant and stopped lighting candles.
They aggravate asthma.
"It's just diligence, considering his needs," she said . ".
Gomez is using vinegar now. and-
In order to avoid bad chemicals, the water solution should be cleaned.
"You know, in our culture, we like to over-clean with bleach and Lysol and all of that stuff," she said . ".
So I try to minimize it.
Lorenzo looked at the list of other triggers. "No mold? No cockroaches?
What about mice?
Gomez answered no to everyone.
Then Lorenzi looked for trouble under the sink and in the bathroom.
She was happy to see that Gomez had gotten rid of the allergens on the living room carpet, she used vacuum cleaners and blinds to reduce the dust, and matheo's toys and shoes were stored in the dust
The proof plastic box provided by the Asthma Initiative, Grandma's cat has been staying in the apartment upstairs.
All these changes seem to pay off.
This was evident when Lorenzi calculated Matheo's "asthma control score.
"To what extent did asthma stop him from going to school and stop you from going to work? Asked Lorenzo.
"There is no time," Gomez said . ". "Awesome!
In the past four weeks, how much time have you noticed that he has short breathing?
Will you say it once a day?
Three to six times a week?
Once or twice a week? Or not at all?
"Not at all," replied Gomez . ".
"I like this!
Lorenzo smiled.
Matheo's score is 23-
That means his asthma is good. controlled.
Lorenzo was on the 19 th when he came last time. not very good. controlled.
Matheo used to go to the hospital every time he had a cold, and there were many times in the middle of the emergency room. But no longer.
He has to take asthma. but less often.
His asthma stopped him from waking up at night.
He goes swimming once a week.
Over the past seven years, the community asthma initiative has served more than a thousand families.
It costs about $2,300 per family.
Not only the staff time, but also plastic boxes, special mattresses and pillowcases and vacuum cleaners that filter dust. Not cheap-
Hospitals don't usually do that.
But in more than a year, there is a clear difference between just a few visits.
Elizabeth Woods told Shots, "You save $1 for every dollar you spend.
46 hospital visits and emergency rooms.
"The performance of the project is detailed in a report published last year by the Journal of Pediatrics.
Woods added: "The number of patients visiting any emergency room has decreased by 56%, and the number of patients in any hospital has decreased by 80%.
"This also does not include reducing the cost of medication use, nor does it include the cost of vacation for parents who care for sick children.
The project began to become popular all over the country.
Woods says she knows about startups and strong interests in Alabama, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Illinois, Indiana, Delaware, Florida and Ohio.
Woods wants to convince Medicaid and other insurance companies to pay for this simple rebuilding.
Home environmental engineering-
Pioneer of the Boston project
So they don't have to pay so much for treating asthma attacks.