A new Asthma Education Centre named in honour of the late Dr. Patrick Gill officially opened today in Charlottetown. It will offer unique one-on-one teaching and support to people with asthma and their families. Estimates suggest between five and 10 percent of adults have asthma, and that one out of five children will be diagnosed with asthma. The Asthma Education Centre will serve all ages.
"Each year there are over 900 emergency room visits (at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital) related to asthma," said the Honourable Mildred Dover, Minister of Health and Social Services. "We expect the teaching offered by the Dr. Patrick Gill Asthma Education Centre will result in a reduction of these visits by one-third to one-half."
Similar education programs in other parts of Canada have shown that educating people about what triggers their asthma, how to avoid those triggers and how to administer asthma medications properly can have significant results.
"Education of clients with asthma, and their families, will have a significant impact on Prince Edward Island," said Dan Fenety, Vice President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) PEI. "Through the Knowledge Economy Partnership, the collaboration of federal and provincial governments with health care practitioners, clients, community and private enterprise is effectively making a difference."
A recent study of 13 of the longest operating asthma education centres in the country has shown positive results. Following the introduction of asthma teaching, there was a decrease in hospital admissions related to asthma by 81 percent, a decrease in the length of hospital stays by 89 percent (from 233 to just 25 days) and the number of emergency room visits for asthma dropped by 79 percent. The same study showed the number of days missed from work due to asthma dropped by 80 percent.
The Asthma Education Centre, located at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, was established with funding from the joint federal-provincial government initiative known as the Knowledge Economy Partnership (KEP) and a special project fund of Queens Region Health. Additional financial support is being provided by corporate pharmaceutical sponsors. GlaxoWellcome and Astra Pharma have provided operational funds plus significant in-kind sponsorship. Other sponsors include the PEI Lung Association and the University of Prince Edward Island School of Nursing.
The centre employs a registered nurse and a respiratory therapist who work with clients and their physicians to develop and monitor a personalized asthma management program for the client to follow. The centre also employs a secretary to coordinate appointments, and input statistical data using a specialized computer software program designed and provided at no cost to the centre by GlaxoWellcome.
The centre serves people with asthma of all ages who live in the Queens Region Health area. Funding will continue until March 1998. An evaluation is then expected to take place to determine if the program is meeting its goals to enhance the health of clients and achieving fewer emergency room visits and hospital stays.
Participation in the education program offered by the Dr. Patrick Gill Asthma Education Centre is voluntary; but to receive services, clients must be referred by either a family or specialist physician or through an evening clinic or emergency room physician. More information can be obtained by plugging into the centre's new website on the government's homepage.
For more information contact: Kathryn Dickson-Doyle at 894-2360