title: Improving asthma care in the outpatient setting.
abstract: Asthma is a chronic and costly disease that affects 5% of the U.S. population and accounts for more than 450,000 primary admissions each year. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts attempted to identify patients with asthma and develop a comprehensive asthma management program in the outpatient setting. The program has focused on one-to-one nursing education, increased utilization of anti-inflammatory inhalers, and actively engaging patients in a customized asthma care program.
authors.affiliation: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Springfield, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kowal
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards*; D001249:Asthma / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D054598:Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans / Q000458:organization & administration; D019468:Disease Management; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D008404:Massachusetts; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*