A mother calls the Asthma Society of Canada's 1-800 toll-free number, tired and frightened, having spent the night at the ER with her four-year-old son.
On the other end of the line is a friendly and supportive healthcare
professional – a Certified Asthma Educator. She explains that
with education and proper management, the majority of people with
asthma can overcome it and lead a completely normal, active lifestyle.
Fifteen minutes later, the mother is calmer. She has some basic information about asthma and knows that her child's asthma does not have to be a life sentence of inactivity and breathlessness.
She has noted the Web site address of asthma.ca and asthmakids.ca,
so that both she and her son can learn more about this disease together.
The educator has also given her the phone number for an asthma education
centre in her area, and has encouraged her to visit her family doctor
immediately to get an asthma action plan.
A few days later, she receives a package in the mail from the Asthma
Society of Canada with the Asthma Series Booklets, and a sample
action plan. The educator invites her to call back anytime that
she needs additional service, or to e-mail her at info@asthma.ca
if she has any questions.
This is an example of the people that initiate contact with the Asthma Society of Canada looking for help.
Research indicates that this single 15-minute educational intervention can be the catalyst necessary to get control of one's asthma.
The Asthma Society has provided educational intervention and counselling to over 6,000 Canadians with asthma in 2005.
In addition to responding to calls, the Society receives every day emails from individuals asking questions about asthma.
The response process is scalable, with a Certified Asthma Educator being the first-response level. If the question is more medical in nature, it is escalated to a physician. Volunteer support is provided by the members of the Family Physicians Airways Group of Canada to respond to medically-related questions.
The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.
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