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Innovative Approach Leads to Significant Reduction in Hospital Visits and Costs
The battle against childhood asthma just got a powerful ally in Shelby County, Tennessee, as the Changing High-Risk Asthma in Memphis through Partnership (CHAMP) program continues to make a profound impact on the lives of children and families.
Monitoring and controlling childhood asthma have long posed significant challenges, but the CHAMP program is tackling these issues head-on with a multifaceted community approach. The program, initiated by the Le Bonheur Children’s Physicians and Community Outreach division in 2012, aims to improve asthma management for children experiencing frequent and severe exacerbations, thereby preventing avoidable hospital visits.
Dr. Christie Michael, CHAMP’s medical director, emphasized the program’s innovative methodology, which revolves around evidence-based practices, community engagement, and addressing social determinants of health. “Our results show that taking down the walls of the clinic and going to where kids live, play, and go to school has been a success,” Dr. Michael stated.
The success of the CHAMP program is evident in the recent paper published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, which highlights the program’s achievements to date. Since its inception, the program has enrolled 1,348 children, focusing on those at high risk due to frequent emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or ICU admissions.
Key findings from the paper include:
- A 58% reduction in emergency department visits.
- A 68% reduction in inpatient and observation visits.
- A 42% reduction in urgent care visits.
- A 53% reduction in total asthma exacerbations.
Moreover, the program has significantly reduced healthcare costs, with a cost analysis revealing a $2,180 reduction per child per year. This reduction underscores the program’s effectiveness in improving health outcomes while lowering the financial burden on insurers.
The CHAMP program’s success has garnered attention from healthcare experts, with Dr. Toby Lewis, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, praising its comprehensive approach. “These kinds of comprehensive, wrap-around approaches that address the multiple contributors to asthma morbidity simultaneously are really the best way to tackle this complex problem,” Dr. Lewis remarked.
Looking ahead, Dr. Michael emphasized the importance of sustainability and potential expansion of the CHAMP program to benefit more high-risk asthma patients. While challenges remain, the program’s proven track record and positive impact on children’s health signal a promising future for childhood asthma care in Shelby County and beyond.
As efforts continue to refine and expand programs like CHAMP, the fight against childhood asthma takes a significant step forward, offering hope and support to children and families grappling with this chronic condition.
