Asthma Management Program @ Jackson Purchase Medical Center
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Michael Ragsdale, RCP, RRT, CPFT, AE-C
Director, Cardiopulmonary Services Department
Certified Asthma Educator
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Over the past quarter century,
the prevalence and severity of asthma has dramatically increased around the
world. This has increased the recognition for the personal, family and community
problems and costs associated with asthma. It became apparent that
specially-trained, knowledgeable health care providers were needed to teach
patients what they need to know to control this complex disease. The national
asthma guidelines, published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
recognize asthma education as an important part of controlling asthma.
An asthma educator is an
expert in counseling individuals with asthma and their families how to manage
their asthma and to minimize its impact on their quality of life.
The asthma educator:
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has comprehensive, current
knowledge of asthma pathophysiology and management including human
development, cultural aspects, chronic illness and teaching-learning
principles.
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understands how asthma is
diagnosed and how to assess its control.
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teaches the best use of
medications and delivery devices, explaining technical concepts in
understandable terms.
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conducts individual and
family assessments to identify strengths, resources, psychological factors,
social and economic impact, educational needs and barriers to optimal health
care and self-management.
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works with individuals
with asthma, their families and healthcare professionals to develop,
implement, monitor and revise the asthma action plan customized to
individual needs, environment, disease severity and lifestyle.
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monitors asthma education
program outcomes and recommends changes to improve quality and
effectiveness.
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serves as a resource to
the community by providing information about asthma as well as healthcare
and community resources.
NATIONAL
ASTHMA EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION BOARD
Mission:
To promote optimal asthma
management and quality of life among individuals with asthma, their families and
communities, by advancing excellence in asthma education through the Certified
Asthma Educator (AE-C) process.
Goals and
Objectives
The National Asthma
Educator Certification Board will develop and implement
qualifications/standards, as well as a certification examination for Asthma
Educators on a national level. Outcome studies to evaluate the effectiveness of
education by a Certified Asthma Educator ( AE-C) will be performed to assess the
benefit of this process and to help guide the re-certification process.
The NAECB process follows
the successful models and standards of the Canadian Network for Asthma Care and
its Certified Asthma Educator (CAE); the National Certification Board of
Diabetes Educators and its Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE); The National
Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), Standards for Certification Programs
and the National Organization for Competence Assurance (NOCA).
The NAECB has:
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Developed certification examination including content areas, specific
questions and validation
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Developed Asthma Educator job description (including role delineation and
work analysis)
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Developed standards for Asthma Educator certification
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Determined eligibility for admission to examination (assure accessibility to
a broad spectrum of health professionals)
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Ensured
that all groups concerned with asthma education are represented directly or
indirectly in the Board's membership and actions
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Assured
that exam content is updated in an on-going and systematic manner
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Monitored/ensured the validity of the AE-C process
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Determined requirements for certification and recertification
The NAECB continues to:
