Asthma Education and Management

North Carolina Asthma Board

Mission Statement:
"To improve the quality of like of patients with asthma in the state of North Carolina"

In 1998, a grassroots effort in North Carolina resulted in the development of the North Carolina Asthma Board (NCAB). This statewide advisory board consists of physicians, allied health professionals, public health officials, pharmacists and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry.

The NCAB became incorporated as a non-profit entity and is the recipient of a grant from the Duke Endowment. This grant will help to establish the NCAB asthma education system.

As many complications of asthma are preventable, the objectives of the NCAB are to:

• Adopt and implement the National Guidelines for management of asthma in North Carolina.
• Provide assistance to physicians in the implementation and teaching of self-management skills for patients with asthma
• Serve as a resource group for asthma initiatives in North Carolina, reaching out to help providers with tolls such as updated asthma management materials to assist in patient care
• Promote innovative education programs for primary care providers such as preceptorships and in-office CME

To achieve its objectives, the North Carolina Asthma Board has chosen to support two specific education projects:

1. The National Reparatory Training Center (NRTC) courses in asthma and COPD
2. The Pharmacist Certification program

The NCAB believes that reimbursement for educator services is critical. In its effort accomplish this, the Board will:

1. Establish the NCAB as a credentialing body
2. Determine which services should be reimbursed and who is eligible for reimbursement