In the last quarter, California Asthma Partners (CAP) presented two webinars in its ongoing series focused on the Strategic Plan for Asthma in California.  On May 18th, CAP presented a  webinar focused on Goal 3 of the Strategic Plan: Healthcare. Dr. Andrew Greenberg presented, "The Role of Bronchial Thermoplasty in the Treatment of Severe Asthma.” For many patients with severe persistent asthma, the primary therapy includes inhaled corticosteroid at higher doses plus a long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonist.
    Bronchial Thermoplasty is a fairly new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, non-drug surgical procedure used to alleviate severe persistent asthma for patients 18 years or older whose asthma is not well controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonists.
Bronchial Thermoplasty is a bronchoscopic procedure that involves delivering energy (heat) at several locations in the major airways in order to reduce the mass of smooth airway muscle and decrease bronchial constriction in severe asthmatics.
    Unfortunately most insurers do not cover the three treatment series, which can cost $12,000 to $20,000.  Bronchial Thermoplasty reduces asthma flare-ups by one-third, and emergency department visits by 85%.
    Dr. Greenberg is a pulmonologist at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland and Berkeley, CA. He is one of a hand full of physicians performing Bronchial Thermoplasty across the country, and the only physician providing this service in the East Bay.

    On July 21st, CAP hosted “Urban Greening in California: What it means for Respiratory Health," a webinar related to Strategic Plan goal 5: Outdoor Environments.  Polly Escovedo and Julie Alvis of the California Natural Resources Agency and Dr. Rick Kreutzer of the California Department of Public Health were the presenters. The webinar focused on the many social, community, environmental and health benefits of urban greening initiatives and provided information about grant funding to support future urban greening efforts.

Recordings of these two webinars will soon be available on the CAP website. In the meantime, view previous webinar recordings here.

CAP Plans Two More Webinars in 2011

     CAP will be hosting a webinar in September, which will focus on the Affordable Care Act and its impact on asthma care. Another webinar slated for October will focus on asthma in schools.  More information on these webinars will soon be available here on the CAP website.