Asthma Control Program

The Rhode Island Asthma Control Program in collaboration with the American Lung Association of Rhode Island, Blue Cross / Blue Shield / Blue Chip / of Rhode Island, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, United Healthcare of New England, Inc., and the Draw a Breath Program of Hasbro Children's Hospital has joined in an initiative to promote a key component of best practices in the management of asthma: using a written asthma action plan.

Research has shown that asthma programs using written asthma action plans have resulted in significant reductions in patient morbidity and service utilization, such as emergency department visits and hospitalizations. In addition to helping to improve patient outcomes, written asthma action plans enhance communication between health care providers, patients, patients' families, and caregivers such as school nurse teachers. Written asthma action plans enhance consistency across an individual patient's system of care.

Representatives from Rhode Island's managed care organizations and the Draw A Breath Program designed a simple, easy to use asthma action plan for distribution and use throughout the State of Rhode Island. English and Spanish versions of the plan are available.

We hope that all health care providers in the state will commit to using an asthma action plan for all their asthma patients!