Physician implementation of asthma management guidelines and recommendations: 2 case studies

Despite the development and availability of new treatments and prescription medications, asthma remains a widespread chronic health problem in the United States. Achieving asthma control in patients is a resource-intensive enterprise that requires close assessment and personalized management. Asthma is simply not a disease that can be remedied with prescription medications alone. In 2007, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program released their Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. The guidelines provide assistance and direction to health care professionals in the assessment and treatment of patients with asthma. Two cases are presented to illustrate the treatment process in light of the Guidelines and the outcomes of these patients, who have varying degrees of support, education, and assessment of adherence to an asthma treatment plan.