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  6. Putting the National Asthma Guidelines into Practice

Putting the National Asthma Guidelines into Practice

Below are some key initiatives that the Lung Association is actively implementing in communities across the country.

The American Lung Association develops and provides key resources to inform asthma policy, provide asthma self-management education programs and quality improvement initiatives that are founded on evidence-based guidelines and practices. You can find a comprehensive list of these materials and efforts below.

    • Attend an Asthma Educator Institute to learn about asthma guidelines-based care and to prepare for the National Asthma Educators Certification Board (NAECB) examination while earning continuing education credits. 
    • Attend a Spirometry Training to learn how to conduct and read spirometry readings.
    • Participate in the American Lung Association’s Asthma Basics online course for people with asthma and caregivers. 
    • Access asthma morbidity and mortality data in the American Lung Association Asthma Trends Brief.
    • Learn about strategies to improve asthma in schools, home and work.
    • Understand severe asthma and access resources for patients.
    • Discover the American Lung Association’s Airways Clinical Research Centers, our sites, investigators and active clinical trials and major findings. Help patients learn about clinical trials and getting enrolled in a study.  
  • Promote the American Lung Association Asthma Basics online course to people with asthma and caregivers to help them learn to recognize and manage asthma triggers, understand the value of an asthma action plan, and recognize and respond to a breathing emergency. 
  • Promote the American Lung Association’s Assessment: Is your asthma under control? to help people with asthma determine their asthma control. 
  • Refer patients and their loved ones to trusted asthma videos and printed resources.
  • Refer patients to our Severe Asthma Resources and use the Severe Asthma Treatment Planning Tool and Treatment Decision-Making Worksheet to help start and discussion with patients and caregivers. 
  • Consider providing a virtual home visit for patients with poorly controlled asthma using a trained provider through the American Lung Association Lung HelpLine. An asthma home visit includes an assessment of the home environment, identification of problems that could reduce exposure to asthma triggers, and education about changes that can be made or behaviors that could improve asthma.
  • Direct patients to in-person and online support groups and related learning opportunities:
    • Promote the Better Breathers Club—support groups for adults with chronic lung disease
    • Refer people with asthma to our Freedom From Smoking cessation program to help them quit.
    • Join and promote our Living with Asthma online community at Inspire for peer-to-peer support from others also living with asthma.
    • Join and promote our Patient & Caregiver Network to get direct access to education, support and connection to others also living with lung disease.
    • Call, email or chat with a health professional at our free call center, the Lung HelpLine.
  • Asthma Care Coverage Project
    Learn more about coverage of asthma guidelines-based care in state Medicaid programs.
  • National Asthma Public Policy Agenda
    The American Lung Association has worked with a number of asthma experts and organizations to identify policy changes in six key areas that could really make a difference in the fight against asthma.
  • Federal Asthma Advocacy
    The federal government funds much of the public health work and research about asthma in the nation. Federal policies make a difference in the asthma triggers in the air.
  • State and Community Asthma Advocacy
    States and local policymakers play critical roles in the fight against asthma. Some have programs to help people with asthma better manage their disease, others work to reduce the triggers that worsen the disease.
  • Sign up for news and updates from the American Lung Association to keep up to date on lung disease, research opportunities and new resources. 
  • Become an advocate and join our Lung Action Network.
  • Make a contribution to lung disease research, advocacy efforts and education. 
  • Lungcast
    Join our podcast series hosted by our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Albert Rizzo that spotlights conversations with researchers, physicians, patients and advocates about hot topics impacting lung health.
  • Training and Education events
    View a wide range of Lung Association education and training events, from webinars to facilitator trainings.
  • Professional Education
    See all our professional education opportunities, including training and certification and continuing education.
  • Health education courses
    Take a course on our online learning platform. 

Health Professionals Get Involved

Join us as we take action and advocate for patients and lung health.
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Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.

Page last updated: October 23, 2024

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