Immediate Release

ExxonMobil funds asthma program

ExxonMobil grant funds pediatric asthma education program Several community groups will collaborate on the new school-based project DALLAS - ExxonMobil has granted $300,000 to Parkland Foundation, on behalf of Parkland Health & Hospital System, to support a community pilot project called the Pediatric Asthma and Respiratory Treatment Program, an educational, preventive health management program for low-income pediatric asthma patients in Dallas County. "ExxonMobil believes that good health is the cornerstone to opportunity and achievement, and our children deserve the best foundation possible. Innovative initiatives such as the Pediatric Asthma and Respiratory Treatment Program provide the education and outreach necessary to help combat these diseases," said Gerald W. McElvy, President, ExxonMobil Foundation. "Parkland is grateful to ExxonMobil for its strategic foresight in bringing together our key institutions to address this health problem which is so prevalent among our children," added David Krause, Parkland Foundation president and chief executive officer. "Such enlightened efforts hold the potential for geometric and dramatic progress within our community." A true community effort, the program involves the collaboration of several local organizations that touch the lives of children, including Parkland Health & Hospital System, Children's Medical Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas Independent School District, Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services and the Community Council of Greater Dallas. "With proper education and treatment, asthma can be controlled and the effects of the disease minimized. Accomplishing this requires a partnership between corporate donors, health care organizations and the community, including the schools, families and other community groups." said Dr. Angelique Ramirez, medical director of Parkland's Community Oriented Primary Care. The asthma program will emphasize education and self-management of asthma. To be spearheaded by Parkland, the school-based project will initially operate in elementary schools in the Pleasant Grove area, however the specific schools have not been named yet. The new program will be part of Parkland's Youth & Family program. Located on various school campuses, the Youth & Family Health Centers are set up to give students and their families a comfortable and familiar atmosphere for primary health care. Working closely with the school nurse, children receive medical attention and antibiotics from the clinics to keep them well and in school. "Thanks to advances in medicine we know about asthma and how to treat it. But despite all our knowledge, it's still a chronic disease that can't be cured. But it can be managed. The key to management is empowering patients to take control of their treatment," Dr. Ramirez said. The goal is to educate patients and their parents or caregivers about asthma and prevention or control strategies. The program links existing treatment services to a new educational and treatment initiative, a patient care model called shared medical appointments. The shared medical appointments group approximately 15 patients of similar ages and diagnoses for a medical appointment with the provider at the same time. The provider evaluates each patient in turn while the others observe. While the provider is charting after each encounter, a behaviorist or social worker manages the group and emphasizes key points from each patient encounter that are relevant for all members of the group. Parkland first implemented this patient care model two years ago in select community clinics for patient populations with conditions that required significant patient education. The appointments have been successful because they stress education and actually allow more time for the patients to spend with the doctor, according to Dr. Ramirez. "So much about successful handling of asthma is based on teaching and education," she added. In 2002, Parkland COPCs treated about 4,600 children who were diagnosed with asthma. Research at the National Academy of Sciences shows that asthma is the most common chronic illness among children in the U.S. According to this research, cases of asthma are increasing and rates of asthma tend to be higher in minority populations and impoverished urban areas.

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For Further Information Contact: Melissa Turner Parkland Health & Hospital System 214-590-8054