Asthma Impact Model

Serving the San Joaquin Valley

The Asthma Impact Model (AIM) is a multi-component intervention strategy to improve the lives of Valley residents suffering with asthma by reducing triggers in the home and ensuring access to and proper use of asthma medications. AIM also supports patients by facilitating and reinforcing regular visits to a health care provider. AIM has been demonstrated to improve the management of asthma and reduce asthma emergencies among a high-risk Medi-Cal population in the region.

AIM Strategies

  • In-home environmental assessment and trigger remediation, health education, case management, testing and utilization review.
  • Develop partnerships with local Managed Care Organizations, agencies and clinicians.
  • Calculate and report intervention outcomes and costs, determine policy implications, assess feasibility of scaling, and develop specific policy goals for sustainability.

Program Impacts

AIM patients reported reduced symptoms, indicating significantly improved asthma controlled.

AIM patients reported better quality of life, including decreased asthma symptoms, fewer activity limitations and improved emotional function.
AIM patients reported lower rates of emergency room visits, hospitalizations and urgent care visits.
Decreased healthcare utilization resulted in a net savings to the health care system of $2,214 per patient.

 

Considerations:

  • As noted, this includes healthcare savings only; a more robust benefit estimate may be expanded to include ancillary value generated by the program—such as averted school absenteeism and increased parent productivity.

Testimonials

“The (AIM) program has helped me a lot in understanding asthma triggers. I’m washing all bedding once a week as recommended and I damp dust and clean my house on a regular basis.”

Modesto R., mother of AIM participant.

“I’m really grateful to be part of this (AIM) program because now I know what needs to be done to help my children live a normal life.”

Juanita S., mother of two asthmatic children.

“After the home assessment, it has been about a year since my son has had any symptoms.”

Janet M., mother of AIM participant.

Implications

  1. Patients reported they were able to live more independent lives.
  2. Patients knew how to better manage their health, environment and medical care needs.
  3. Cost-benefit analysis showed decreased utilization of medical care resulted in a net savings and positive return on investment.

Who Qualifies?

  • Patients with an Asthma diagnosis
  • Must live in current AIM service area
  • All Ages
  • No income or insurance requirements

 

 

 

Free Incentives

Patients may also qualify for great free incentives:

  • HEPA vacuum cleaner
  • Asthma-friendly cleaning supplies
  • Non-toxic integrated pest management (IPM)
  • Health protective HVAC filters for one year
  • Asthma safe pillow and mattress covers
  • Hygrometer to measure humidity and prevent mold
  • Spacer/chamber for inhaler to ensure proper medication use

Home Environmental Assessment (HEA)

  • Based on the HEA, a list of recommendations for low/no-cost steps towards trigger remediation are provided.
    • Highlights areas that the family is already doing correctly to reduce asthma triggers.
    • Asks families to commit to three new things that will help reduce asthma triggers in their home.
    • During follow-up visits and phone calls, these commitments are reviewed for continued efficacy.

Adapting AIM to COVID-19 Needs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthmatics may be at higher risk for adverse health outcomes due to COVID-19. In response, CCAC has quickly adapted new measures to protect the health and safety of patients, this includes a newly developed virtual visit protocol and updated internal IT policies and security for the transmission and storage of Patient Health Information. After some initial field testing with several willing patients, CCAC has begun to use virtual visits to safely conduct environmental home assessments, monthly follow-up calls and asthma assessments to connect with patients and provide education, advocacy and support during these uncertain times.

*If you live in one of the counties where we are currently enrolling for the AIM Program and would like to know how to enroll, please contact us by email or phone from the options above.

If you are a medical provider who would like to refer a patient to the AIM Program, please FAX your referral to 559-492-3802.