Happy Holidays..and Thank You!

As we approach the end of another successful year for the West Virginia Asthma Coalition, I want to take the time to thank all of our Coalition members, subcommittee chairs, our Executive Committee, and the other numerous volunteers and coworkers that help make this Coalition a success. As you learned from our last blog post, there are quite a mix of individuals that make this all possible – from the CDC, to the West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program, and more. We certainly could not be capping off another year without each of you. We have great hopes for the future of our program as we move forward into 2012.

As we approach a time where we reflect on things gone by in 2011 and focus on the hopes of 2012, I am pleased to say that the WV Asthma Coalition has reached great heights. Our subcommittees have worked endlessly on developing new project proposals for 2012, and in reviewing initial ideas and outlines, I am excited to see the new avenues that we will begin to explore together. Taking current ideas and embracing new initiatives is a feat I see taking place in all of our subcommittee efforts, and I look forward to the outcomes.

As we face a new year of asthma challenges, I know that we are armed with a wonderful group of individuals that are committed to education and prevention for senior citizens, students, and individuals of all ages, races, and backgrounds — because together we are ”helping West Virginians with asthma breathe easier”.  Thank you to those that serve as part of this wonderful Coalition and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

 

 

 

Understanding the WV Asthma Coalition

It has often been discussed that the roots of the West Virginia Asthma Coalition are difficult to understand, and as the West Virginia Asthma Coalition manager, I would have certainly agreed when I first took on this role. There are several different organizations that all work together to bring this Coalition to life, but how they all play into that can be somewhat complicated. As a follower of our social media, you have probably noticed that there are posts related to the Centers for Disease Control, the West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program, and the American Lung Association in West Virginia, and you might have wondered how all of these organizations relate to what we do as a Coalition. Furthermore, at events, meetings, or on flyers, and notifications you might have seen logos for these organizations and wondered what they have to do with our efforts. Today I have decided that I am going to take an informal approach at explaining this relationship to you.

The West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program (WV-AEPP) was created by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The WV-AEPP then provides funding to several other organizations in the area to help develop, implement, and evaluate a statewide strategic asthma plan in the ultimate interest of reducing the health and economic consequences attributed to asthma in West Virginia. One of those organizations that the WV-AEPP assists with funding is the American Lung Association in West Virginia (ALA-WV). Through a subcontract with the WV-AEPP, the ALA-WV manages the West Virginia Asthma Coalition.

For a better understanding of how this works, I developed a flow chart to explain the connection of all these organizations.

Along with this partnership, the Coalition is a diverse group of organizations and over 80 individuals that continue to branch the goals and work of all these organizations, from the top down.

Therefore, when you see representatives from the WV-AEPP or the ALA-WV at events representing the Coalition, this is where the connection stems from. Or, when you receive information from the ALA-WV or see postings on the social media sites from one of these organizations, it is an entire team of individuals working together to support the success of the Coalition.

Faces of Influenza

The influenza disease is more than just a common cold; it is a serious respiratory illness. Nationwide, influenza and its complications cause an average of 26,000 deaths and approximately 226,000 hospitalizations each year. These victims and thousands more are the “faces” of influenza – people recommended for annual immunization by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To help prevent influenza from spreading and to encourage influenza immunization, the American Lung Association brings Faces of Influenza, a national educational campaign, to West Virginia. This multi-year public awareness initiative helps Americans put a “face” on this serious disease and recognize annual influenza immunization as an important preventative measure to protect themselves and their loved ones.

To learn more about the Faces of Influenza campaign and to locate a flu shot clinic near you visit www.facesofinfluenza.org. Also, check out this interview with Faces of Influenza spokesperson and Olympic Gold Medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/13/kristi-yamaguchi-urges-public-to-get-annual-flu-shot/

2011 Fall Quarterly Meeting

Fall is in the air, and so is the first Quarterly Meeting for the West Virginia Asthma Coalition. The first Quarterly Meeting of the new activity year will be taking place at Mon General Hospital in Morgantown, WV on November 8th. The meeting will take place from 11:00am-3:30pm and will include a working lunch for subcommittee project planning.

The Coalition is excited to be hosting guest speakers, Jeff Neccuzi of the Division of Immunization Services, Chaste Barclay of the American Lung Association in West Virginia, and Stephanie Moore of the Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease. Topics such as influenza, whooping cough, program development, and the future of asthma with chronic disease will be covered.

For more information about the Fall Quarterly Meeting, or to RSVP, please contact Coalition Manager, Lindsay Elkins at 304-342-6600 or lelkins@lunginfo.org.

REVISED 2011-2012 Calendar

There have already been a few changes registered for the 2011-2012 activity calendar. These changes include the following:

Tuesday, November 8th: Fall Quarterly Meeting, Mon General Hospital, Morgantown

Wednesday, January 25: Asthma & COPD Awareness Day at the Capitol

For a complete list of all activities, please visit: http://www.wvasthma.org/Portals/4/2011-2012%20Calendar%20(2).pdf

We look forward to seeing you at a meeting or activity soon!

2011-2012 WVAC Calendar

The West Virginia Asthma Coalition is excited to start a new year of asthma education and prevention in our state. We encourage all individuals, whether a registered member of our Coalition or not, to consider participating in our local events. Below is the 2011-2012 Calendar of Events:

September 23, 2011: Fall Newsletter Released

October 14, 2011: World Spirometry Day (Tentative)

November 16, 2011: World COPD Day

November 17, 2011: Fall Quarterly Meeting

December 15, 2011: Winter Newsletter Released

January/February: Asthma & COPD Awareness Day at the Capitol, Charleston

February 23, 2012: Winter Quarterly Meeting, Webinar

April 2, 2012: Spring Newsletter Released

May 1, 2012: World Asthma Day

May 17, 2012: Spring Quarterly Meeting

July 22-27,2012: Camp Catch Your Breath, Jackson’s Mill

August 15-16, 2012: 2012 WVAC Annual Asthma Retreat

**Meeting dates and locations are subject to change; however, the WVAC Manager will send specific information closer to the date.

2011 Annual Asthma Retreat

The West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program, the West Virginia Asthma Coalition, and the American Lung Association in West Virginia are proud to announce the 2011 Annual Asthma Retreat. The Retreat will mark the 10th year for the West Virginia Asthma Coalition and “A Decade of Moving from Evidence to Action”. The event will take place August 9th and 10th at the Embassy Suites, Charleston, WV. This two-day event will provide keynote addresses and breakout sessions focused on tobacco and secondhand smoke, spriometry screening, COPD, pediatric asthma, and the current designer drug crisis of incense and bath salts.

Registration for this event begins at 11:00am on Tuesday, August 9th and will conclude on Wednesday, August 10th at 2:30pm. For complete details of the event, please visit www.wvasthma.org. For more information, also contact Lindsay Elkins at lelkins@lunginfo.org.

2011 Respiratory Rally

On Saturday, June 11th, the American Lung Association, along with sponsors including the West Virginia Asthma Coalition, the West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program, University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University School of Nursing, West Virginia Society for Respiratory Care, and Medical Service Company will be hosting the third annual Respiratory Rally.

The Respiratory Rally is a one-day conference for people suffering from lung disease, their caregivers, and the health professionals who provide clinical care. The day provides two tracks: one for patients intertested in learning how to better manage their lung disease, and one for providers interested in learning about new technologies and techniques. Continuing education units are available for providers that attend.

Along with the conference sessions, the Respiratory Rally will provide a Wellness Carnival. Information will be distributed on diabetes, heartburn, high blood pressure, and the shingles vaccine. Individuals can also take part in FREE screenings for body mass index, blood sugar, bood pressure, and hemoglobin A1C.

The Rally will take place at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy. The patient track will take place fom 8am-noon and the provider track will take place from 8am-2pm.

If you have questions or would like to sign up to attend the Rally, please contact Christine Compton at 304-342-6600 or ccompton@lunginfo.org.

World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day 2011 

World Asthma Day, sponsored by the West Virginia Asthma Coalition, is taking place on May 3, 2011 at the Charleston Town Center Mall in Center Court. The day will begin at 10:00am with several vendors providing materials, opportunities for testing, and more.

Please join us for free refreshments and exhibits from the West Virginia Asthma Coalition and the West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program, the Asthma & Allergy Center, and CAMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Our exhibitors will be providing pulmonary function and oxygen saturation testings, spacer and peak flow trainings, and information on asthma and lung disease.

For questions or more information, please contact the West Virginia Asthma Coalition Manager, Lindsay Elkins, at 304.342.6600 or lelkins@lunginfo.org.

Camp Catch Your Breath

United Hospital Center (UHC) in Bridgeport and the American Lung Association in West Virginia together with their sponsoring hospitals and supporters, are proud to provide “Camp Catch Your Breath” for children with asthma. The camp provides a fun and educational experience for children who might not otherwise get to go to camp.

During camp, the children will learn by sharing their experiences, make decisions about their conditions and express their feelings about having asthma. In addition to the educational component, children will participate in games, sports, swimming, and crafts.

“Camp Catch Your Breath” will be July 24-29, 2011 at Jackson’s Mill in Weston, WV. The application deadline is Friday, July 9th with a limited attendance of 70 campers ages 8-13. The fee for registering after June 24th is $80.

For more ifnormation about “Camp Catch Your Breath”, please visit http://asthmacamp.uhcwv.org/ or search “Camp Catch Your Breath” on Facebook.