A Program Overview & Introduction of a Chapter Champion – “What I Do and How to Connect”
By Nighat F Mehdi, MD
Are you interested in learning more about asthma, allergy and/or anaphylaxis care within the medical home? Look no further! The Oklahoma Chapter is involved in an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) program, Medical Home Chapter Champions Program on Asthma, Allergy and Anaphylaxis, and as your Chapter Champion, I am here to serve as a resource to you.
Background
Across the AAP, Chapter Champion programs have been very effective in the dissemination of best practices and policies to pediatric health care providers and others nationwide. The AAP Chapter Chamption programs, managed at the national focus on establishing infrastructure to provide technical assistance as well as tools and resources to pediatricians and other pediatric health care providers in a more direct manner. As a result, activities can be developed that align more closely with state, local, and/or community priorities. To this end, the Medical Home Chapter Champions Program on Asthma, Allergy and Anaphylaxis is dedicated to advancing the core components of patient- and family-centered medical homes for children with asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis and their families at the state and local level. Established in 2010 as the Medical Home Chapter Champions Program on Asthma, the expanded program now aims to promote the delivery of high quality asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis care in the medical home through team-based, family-centered care coordination and co-management among patients and their families, primary care pediatricians, and pediatric asthma and allergy specialists.
Role and Responsibilities of Chapter Champions
The role of the Chapter Champion is diverse and can be specific to suit the activities of the Chapter. As your Chapter Champion, I am here to:
- Assist in improving systems, processes, and outcomes related to children with asthma, allergy and/or anaphylaxis at a local and Chapter level
- Serve as a conduit for disseminating best policies, practices and education, as well as other resources and information, to pediatric health care providers in Oklahoma
- Serve as an advocate for change related to medical home and/or asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis care at the local, state, and national levels
- Assist in aligning national, state, local, and/or community priorities
- Learn proven ways to implement and improve “medical home-ness” and disseminate learned information to Chapter members
- Access and disseminate practical tools and strategies for how to deliver better patient- and family-centered care for patients with asthma, allergy and/or anaphylaxis
To connect with your Chapter’s medical home Chapter Champion and learn about what is going on in your state/chapter with regards to asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis care in the medical home…
Nighat F Mehdi, MD
Associate Professor Of Pediatrics
Pediatric Pulmonary Division of OUHSC
Chapter Champion Program on Asthma Allergy and Anaphylaxis
For more information about the AAP Medical Home Chapter Champions Program on Asthma, Allergy and Anaphylaxis, contact Nkem Chineme, MPH, Program Manager, American Academy of Pediatrics, at 800/433-9016 ext 4342, or nchineme@aap.org.