A breath of fresh air for those with childhood asthma
When you're a kid, it can be hard to do the things you love when you have trouble breathing: going outside, playing sports, or even just spending time with family. Asthma has a significant impact on children’s health across the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma affects approximately 6.5% of children and 8.4% of adolescents in the United States. This includes approximately 234,000 children who are part of a UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
There are many different risk factors for asthma, including mold, tobacco smoke, and even strong emotions, which can cause hyperventilation. Environmental factors can also be a contributing factor, whether it’s pollutants from a nearby highway, mold in a house, or wildfire smoke.
Nevertheless, there are many ways to help address childhood asthma, and there is rarely a one-size-fits-all approach to treat and manage it.
While education can be key in helping to avoid or manage asthma-triggering situations, asthma symptoms can be alleviated or even reversed completely with the appropriate use of bronchodilator medications such as short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs), which relax the airway muscles and improve airflow.
However, taking this medication is not always intuitive. A study indicates that only 36% of children with asthma adhered to their prescribed medication schedule correctly and consistently. Younger patients can find it challenging to use their inhalers accurately. Proper inhaler technique is essential to get optimal clinical benefits from the medication.
Given the ongoing challenges of pediatric asthma management, UnitedHealthcare Community Plans is working with Scene Health for virtual medication engagement and support for its members in five states:
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
Scene Health helps kids create healthy habits and feel more confident using their inhalers, easing the burden on health care providers and parents.
“I'm so thankful that my sons did the program,” Jennifer1, a mother of two boys who worked with Scene Health. “They were sick all the time with the most horrible coughs, and they were always congested. After the program, they were using the inhaler really well, and they didn't get sick at all. It was amazing.”
With Scene Health, patients can take control of their health with extra help and 1:1 daily connections. Scene's program supports and motivates children with asthma through a clinical program that uses video Directly Observed Therapy (vDOT).
The program begins with a pharmacist who reviews the patient’s medications, and continues to daily check-ins with Scene Health’s care team through an app. The patient uploads videos of them taking their medication to be reviewed by the care team for support and motivational encouragement, technique tips, and further education if needed.
Because the patient is engaged in the program daily, it helps them develop healthy habits, build confidence, and ultimately improve their condition.
Scene Health’s care team of pharmacists, nurses and health coaches create a customized action plan for each child and shares it with the child’s family and pediatrician. This enables them to:
- Identify asthma triggers
- Learn about and understand asthma triggers
- Practice asthma-management techniques
- Assist the child in taking medication correctly and consistently
VDOT is one tool UnitedHealthcare Community Plan members with asthma have at their disposal to help them breathe a little easier. By combining various treatment approaches, children and their families are equipped with the tools and knowledge to overcome asthma’s challenges, unlocking their full potential for a healthier, brighter future.
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