Developing a Care Plan for Optimal Health Outcomes for People with Asthma

This article discusses the importance of correct diagnosis, identifying barriers to sub-optimal asthma control, and implementing non-clinical interventions for asthma patients. It also advocates for the implementation of an integrated information system for patient-centered monitoring of asthma patients. The article provides an appropriate person-centered plan of care for asthma patients and discusses the implementation of the plan.

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DEVELOPING A CARE PLAN FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH
ASTHMA
By (Name)
Course:
Professor:
University/Institution:
Date:

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Part A: Executive Summary
Given the challenges that most asthma patients as well as medical practitioners face in
their bid to manage the condition, it is imperative that a correct diagnosis be established prior to
administration of care or treatment to the patient. As studies reveal, correct diagnosis is critical in
assessing poor symptom control and as such, physicians would be inclined to undertake
comprehensive history of the patient, physical examination and lung function measurement when
necessitated. In this light, it is advocated that barriers that contribute to sub-optimal asthma
control should be identified and eradicated (Barton et al, 2009, p. 103). Some of these factors
include; smoking, poor inhaler technique and disregarding patients’ views (Dima, Bruin &
Ganse, 2016, p. 867). Hence, it is suggested that clinical trials should be administered among
diverse patient populations so as to determine a wide range of these barriers and distinguish
effective ways in which they can be controlled.
To successfully improve the well-being asthma patients, primary care and specialist care
have been supplemented with non-clinical interventions that are specifically tailored to suit the
needs of the patient. Such interventions may include; environmental assessments where the
patient is residing, in-depth education of asthma inclusive of the preventive measures that may
be initiated by the individual, and mitigation of the risks or rather exposure of the individual to
factors that may trigger asthma. Evidence reveals that such strategies have been found to be
essential in decreasing urgent medical encounters as well as improving the quality of life of the
patient in a process that facilitates speedy recoveries (Hoppin, Jacob & Stillman, 2010, p. 2).
An integrated information system for patient centered monitoring of asthma patients has
also been advocated for as an appropriate measure for providing care to asthma patients. Ideally,

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the implementation of automated systems in healthcare settings has proved to be pivotal in
hastening the provision of care by reducing the time that patients get access to physicians. On the
same note, such systems have also been effective in reducing the work load for medical
practitioners as well as promoting patient safety by reducing errors in the provision of care (Cano
et al, 2009, p. 373). In this light, research has revealed that by implementing a model information
system that is capable of integrating patient health information for asthma patients, medical
practitioners will realize an improved level of connectivity for health information that
specifically supports the care of patients with persistent asthma (Adams, et al, 2003, p. 2).
Finally, the Asthma Model of Care developed in Western Australia provides a number of
best practices that can be instituted among patients suffering from asthma. The model basically
focuses on optimal pathways of care and the management of long-term conditions in a way that
enhances self-management as well as disease and case management. In this light, the model
proposes a number of practices including; reducing asthma related risks, early or prompt
diagnosis, asthma self-management, assessment of severity of asthma, management of transition
care, and asthma education (Department of Health, 2012). In this plan, it has been articulated that
physicians ought to implement these plans in an attempt to help prevent or rather mitigate the
prevalence of asthma as a chronic condition that affects all patient populations regardless of their
age.
Part B
Policy and Relevant Information
Ideally, people suffering from asthma incur huge medical costs in their attempts to treat
the condition. Furthermore, they lack sufficient education as evidenced by their inability to

Developing a Care Plan 4
access comprehensive asthma education especially in during the home environmental
interventions. Also, services being accorded to asthma patients are not adequately paid for by
insurance companies thereby making it even the more expensive to treat the condition (Hoppin,
Jacob & Stillman, 2010, p. 2). Thus by providing access to education where patients become
well acquainted with the risk factors and the measures that they may take to help prevent the
condition from escalating or rather, to facilitate recovery, becomes critical in the provision of
care for asthma patients.
Physicians in their practice have also been cautioned on the need to conduct
comprehensive patient assessments so as to be able to understand the exact symptoms of asthma
and subsequently prevent poor controls of asthma (Hoecke & Cauwenberge, 2007, p. 706). In
such cases, a simple question regarding the medical history of the patient has been found to be
effective in achieve such objectives. Moreover, physicians have also been inclined to respect
patient autonomy thereby taking their time to appreciate individual patient views relating to their
health (Haughney et al, 2008, p. 1682). Hence, discussions between medical practitioners and
patients have been guided under such facets thereby ensuring that patient receives care that is
well suited to their needs.
In various medical organizations, technology has been incorporated for the better
management of health for patients. For asthma patients in particular, an integrated information
system comprising of three main components has been implemented to improve the monitoring
of patients with asthma. The technology comprising of patient centred telephone linked
communication system and an internet-based alert that facilitates reporting and nurse case
management system has proven to be efficient in supporting customized monitoring of patients
while at the same time transferring critical data that facilitates timely provision of care to patients

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(Adams et al, 2003, p. 1). Thus, the inclusion of technology in medical practice has proven to be
critical in the management and provision of care to asthma patients.
Additionally, given the financial challenges faced in health care as well as the economy
in terms of the costs incurred in treating asthma, it has become essential for medical practitioners
and patients alike to develop strategies under the model that are specifically suited in controlling
the health, social and economic burden that is presented by this condition (Watson, Turk & Rabe,
2007, p. 1885). Thus it has become essential to develop coordinated plan that addresses smoking
especially among aboriginal communities since they comprise the target population that is
deemed to be at the most risk.
Asthma action plans for children and adolescents should also be implemented and
distributed across different regions (Mogasale & Vos, 2013, p. 206). Early diagnosis should also
be facilitated through identification and training of spirometry providers who are caters for
patients with respiratory conditions (Department of Health, 2012). Management of asthma
should also be centered on access to integrated and coordinated services with more emphasis
being placed on consumer education. Similarly, workforce education should be provided to
medical practitioners at all levels of the organization (Rhonda et al, 2012).
An Appropriate Person Centred Plan of Care
A comprehensive asthma management program should ideally look to incorporate in-
home environmental interventions as well as invest in asthma education for the patients. Most of
the patients suffering from asthma are not well aware of the risk factors that could trigger an
attack. Furthermore, the care that they receive in other environments should ideally be
insufficient to cater for the needs of the patient (Jones, 1999, p. 16). For instance, in the case of

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Jean, she continues to smoke while ignoring the risk that this behavior has on her health. Her
dietary habits are also not healthy as it should be. These factors indicate that Jean could be
ignorant of her well-being. Hence, instigating a care plan that incorporates interventions in the
environment of the patient would ideally be critical in revealing such aspects of Jean’s life
thereby necessitating prompt actions to mitigate them (Kuipers et al, 2017, p. 889).
Furthermore, Jean could further be educated on the important measures that she needs to
undertake in order to facilitate quick recovery. In such a case therefore, the program would be
successful in ensuring that the unhealthy habits such as poor dietary habits and smoking are
eliminated in the life of Jean thereby facilitating quick and full recovery of the patient (Smiley,
2011). Even so, smoking has been touted as one of the leading causes of poor management of
asthma, and as such, education could help Jean keep abreast with such facts thereby deterring her
from smoking and further exacerbating her condition.
In the provision of care, it is also essential that the medical practitioners such as nurses
guide their patient related discussions with an open mind that takes into account the patient’s
perspective concerning the matter. In this light, it would be worthwhile for the practitioner to
ensure that they have conducted a comprehensive test that would identify how exactly the
condition impacts on the patient (Haughney et al, 2008, p. 1682). In relation to Jean, she detests
hospitals primarily because she is not listened to and there has been an ongoing lack of privacy.
At this thought, she becomes deterred from seeking medical assistance a factor which contributes
to her health deteriorating even further. It therefore becomes apparent that physicians in this
medical facility exhibit ignorance to patient autonomy and they seem utterly oblivious of how
their neglect and ignorance impacts negatively on the well-being of their patients.

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To rectify this malpractice, it is imperative that the medical practitioners to return to the
basics of history taking and consider that the possible ramifications that may occur as a result of
their behavior (Smiley, 2011). As such, the care plan should look to ensure that the medical
practitioners take into account the input being given by Jean, the patient in this case, if the care
plan is to be effective in achieving better health outcomes for the patient.
The inclusion of technologically based medical systems could prove to be pivotal in the
provision of care for patients. As evidence reveal, technology has facilitated timely and accurate
delivery of data in various decision making points within a healthcare organization thereby
promoting better patient outcomes and ultimate delivery of quality care (Adams et al, 2003, p. 2).
Hence, the inclusion of information based system that maintains communication between the
physician and the patient could enhance patient monitoring thereby improving on the quality of
care. In Jean’s case for example, there is need to maintain constant communication between the
nurse and the patient (Cano et al, 2016, p. 373). This is mainly because Jean is finding it difficult
to keep track of her medication and the care plan thereby failing to adhere to the stipulated care
plan.
Notably, a patient centred telephone-linked communication can enable sufficient
communication between Jean and her nurses when she is at her home. In this case, the nurse and
the patient can communicate frequently in the process reminding the patient of the care plan. As
such, this process enhances the monitoring of the patient and ensuring that the care plan is
effective (Rhonda et al, 2012). In addition, this patient monitoring can enable the medical
practitioner to distinguish the care plans that are proving to be fruitful and those that provide
minimal or no benefits to the patient (Turner, 2016, p. 33). Consequently, necessary changes can
be made in a bid to improve the care being provided. It is also

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In addition, management of asthma plan should incorporate smoking cessation program
especially among high risk patient populations such as pregnant women, people with mental
health issues and among economically disadvantaged communities (Turner, 2016, p. 34).
Similarly, Jean is at high risk of asthma considering the number cigarettes she smokes in a given
day. Thus, such a program could be pivotal in guaranteeing Jean a smooth road towards
recovery.
Implementation of the Plan of Care
Given the prevalence of asthma among children across the globe, the implemented plan
should coincide with the services and the available health professionals found in Sydney
Children’s Hospital Network. With a strong and committed workforce coupled with the fact that
the institution is also research based, it is highly likely that the development and implementation
of the technologically based communication system will be achievable. The high quality health
services accorded to children should therefore make an inclusion of support to communication
technology that should incorporate telehealth for the benefit of the patient (SHCN, 2018).
Notably, this incentive will enhance the monitoring of children diagnosed with Asthma.
In addition, this offers a new level of connectivity of health information that supports
monitoring. Also, the system will ensure that the parents or caretakers of these patients have easy
access to and control of health care information which may comprise of electronic health records
(Turner, 2016, p. 33). Hence, this would guarantee that the patients have been accorded the best
possible care.

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References
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Monitoring, Case Management, and Point-of-Care Decision Support. Annual Symposium
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Barton et al., 2009. Management of Asthma in Australian General Practice: Care is still not in
Line with Clinical Practice Guidelines. Primary Care Respiratory Journal, 18, 100-105.
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