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St. Anthony’s Hosts Asthma Day For Children In Time For Back To School
| Oldest Free Medical Clinic in U.S. offers help to SF neighborhood with highest citywide rate of COPD hospitalizations
SAN FRANCISCO, CA August 4th, 2010 St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic today offers an Asthma Day to help children and their parents prepare them for a healthy new school year by providing them with the tools to better understand and effectively manage their illness. Offered in conjunction with the Teddy Bear Clinic hosted by CPMC, St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic staff will dedicate the day to teaching the importance of asthma medication management, tips on identifying personal environmental triggers, and action plans in case of asthmatic emergencies. The event’s goal is to give children and their families the knowledge and medical support they need to confidently manage their health care for life — without trips to the emergency room. The event takes place on Wednesday August 4th at the St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic, 150 Golden Gate Ave, from 1pm to 4pm. |
Asthma in the Tenderloin
The Tenderloin has the highest citywide rate for ambulatory hospitalizations associated with COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and the second highest rate for asthma. According to a 2007 UCLA Health Policy Research Brief, one in six of California’s 2.8 million residents with active asthma live below poverty level. In addition to having poorer overall health, low-income residents also miss more school and work because of asthma, visit the emergency department for asthma care more often, and experience more frequent symptoms.
“Tenderloin residents live in old, poorly maintained buildings whose dust, mold, and other environmental factors dramatically increase asthma incidents.” noted St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic Director, Dr. Ana Valdés. “We try to address those factors through education, active medical care, and asthma management techniques.”
St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic
Established in 1956, the St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic is the first Free Medical Clinic in the United States. The clinic provides 12,000 patient care visits annually, nearly 3,000 of which are chronic care visits, Asthmatic patient account for about 9% of total visits.
