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Flint Asthma Center Breathes New Life Into Web Site

Flint's Hurley Medical Center has rolled out a new Web site to match the efforts of its Asthma Disease Managers, who go to health fairs, schools, churches and synagogues, doctors' offices, and community centers to teach people how to control, and prevent, asthma.

The site is at www.Hurleyasthmakids.com.

The site backs up the efforts of the Genesee County Asthma Network, a team of teachers, parents, pharmacists, doctors, and school nurses.

"The GCAN is dedicated to educating and improving support services for children with asthma in the community, including a day camp for kids with asthma and the development of family support groups," said Jan Roberts, coordinator of the GCAN. "We are honored to be able to educate the public in this way, day in and day out, and really change children's lives, for the better. Today, the Web site will allow us to take that education to a whole new level."

The Genesee County Asthma Network involves home visits, school, daycare or worksite visits, and physician office visits. Their plan of care allows them to follow a patient for up to 18 months to help them manage not only their asthma, but their environment as well.

"Asthma can often be controlled, and the most important thing is to not only teach kids how to manage this disease, but to continue the treatment as needed," said Brian Nolan, M.D., director of clinical pediatrics at Hurley. "That can mean the different between life and death, in some cases." He called the new Web site "a wonderful way to educate people around Genesee County, and the world, (about) what asthma is, and how to treat it and manage it successfully."

GCAN is one of 11 asthma coalitions in the state of Michigan, and was approached by the Michigan Department of Community Health about serving as a pilot program for others to follow around Michigan. GCAN has also received numerous statewide and national health awareness awards through the years.

In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Genesee County Asthma Network and the Hurley Medical Center Asthma Clinical Outreach Program for the outstanding way they address environmental triggers as part of their comprehensive asthma care programs. Only five national organizations received this prestigious award.

In 2007, the Genesee County Childhood Asthma Task Force was honored by the EPA with a National Exemplary Award for Asthma Management. As the only county in the state of Michigan that showed a decrease in asthma morbidity and mortality, Genesee County and Hurley Medical Center are models for other asthma programs across the country.

In 2006, then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan Department of Community Health selected Hurley Medical Center as one of 23 Hometown Health Heroes in the state of Michigan. Hurley received this honor for working tirelessly to maintain and improve the health of its local community.

In 2005, Hurley Medical Center received the Ludwig Award from the Michigan Hospital Association for excellence in asthma education and support services for children.

Hurley Medical Center is a 443-bed public teaching hospital located in the heart of Genesee County. It is the region's only Level I Trauma Center, Burn Center, and the highest level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) available in Genesee County.

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