Helping You Breathe Easier

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation of the airways. People with asthma often experience constant cough, pain or tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, especially during and after exercise. If you have been diagnosed with asthma or experience any of the symptoms above, it's time to check out the Advocate Trinity Hospital Asthma Program.

Trinity Hospital's fully accredited program provides a team approach to asthma care. The program also provides support, education and community programs to help people better control their asthma.

Accredited Program

The Advocate Trinity Hospital Asthma Program was established in 1993 and follows the guidelines set forth by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Advocate Trinity Hospital and Advocate Health Care have received asthma accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Accreditation demonstrates an organization's commitment to achieving high quality and safe care for the people it serves.

Team Approach

The Advocate Trinity Hospital Asthma Program uses a unique, multidisciplinary team-approach to asthma care. Medical professionals from various specialties work together to provide the best possible asthma care. Our team is made up of medical professionals from various disciplines, including:

Medicine:  Physicians assist with the development and monitoring of treatment protocols and standing orders for care.
Asthma Nurse Educator:  The asthma nurse educator oversees the entire asthma program, provides patient and staff education and serves as a link to the community to ensure patients' asthma stays under control.
Respiratory Care:  Respiratory care therapists provide breathing treatments for people in the hospital. Therapists also teach patient education classes at the hospital and in the community.
Pharmacy:  Pharmacists ensure that patients receive appropriate medication while in the hospital.
Quality Assurance:  Quality assurance professionals gather and interpret outcomes data to ensure that treatments are effective and that the program continues to meet quality standards.
Care Management:  Care Management-Social workers assist patients who need equipment for home treatment.

Education and Community Programs

The asthma program offers many educational programs to help people better understand their condition and learn how to keep asthma in check. Educational programs include:

• One-on-one individualized education sessions for persons encountering difficulty managing their asthma.
• Monthly asthma education classes covering self-management, peak flow monitoring, environmental triggers and more.
• The "Open Airways Program" for grade school students and faculty members.