BREATHE PENNSYLVANIA

LUNG DISEASE EDUCATION - IN 2024-25, 365 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHOOL ASTHMA INITIATIVE (SAI). THE PROGRAM ALSO TRAINED 54 SCHOOL NURSES AND DISTRIBUTED 365 ASTHMA KITS TO STUDENTS WHO NEEDED EXTRA SUPPORT. IN ADDITION, 35 SCHOOL NURSES RECEIVED BACKUP ALBUTEROL TO KEEP ON HAND IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES. DURING THE YEAR, SAI EXPANDED ITS REACH TO FIVE NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, PROVIDING CRITICAL RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO OFFER ACT 48 AND NURSING CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACCREDITED TRAINING COURSES TAILORED FOR EARLY LEARNING CENTERS AND SCHOOL NURSES, ENSURING CAREGIVERS AND EDUCATORS WERE PREPARED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA IN EDUCATIONAL AND CARE SETTINGS.SAI GOES BEYOND EDUCATION BY EMPOWERING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. BY PROVIDING PRACTICAL TOOLS, CLEAR GUIDANCE, AND AGE-APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION, THE PROGRAM HELPED CHILDREN BUILD CONFIDENCE IN MANAGING THEIR ASTHMA AND RECOGNIZING EARLY WARNING SIGNS. STUDENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR HEALTH, FOSTERING RESILIENCE AND SELF-ADVOCACY WHILE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR IMPROVED LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES.BREATHE PA CONDUCTED 911 PERSONALIZED LUNG DISEASE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SESSIONS FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS 38 LOCATIONS WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA. THESE SESSIONS PROVIDED IN-DEPTH EDUCATION ON RESPIRATORY MEDICATIONS, PROPER USE OF MEDICATION DELIVERY DEVICES, DISEASE PROCESSES, EQUIPMENT CARE AND MAINTENANCE, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND EVIDENCE-BASED DISEASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. THEY DISTRIBUTED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, SPACERS, PULSE OXIMETERS, AND PEAK FLOW METERS AT PULMONARY REHAB FACILITIES, SENIOR CENTERS, HOSPITALS, COLLEGES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS.BREATHE PA'S OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA) PROGRAM CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN PATIENT SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO CARE ACROSS THE REGION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATION TO 277 INDIVIDUALS AND DELIVERED PATIENT ASSISTANCE AND ESSENTIAL SLEEP APNEA SUPPLIES TO 60 INDIVIDUALS, HELPING PARTICIPANTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGE TREATMENT EFFECTIVELY. BREATHE PRESENTED AT 61 SENIOR CENTERS, OFFERING EDUCATION ON CPAP USE, LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT TREATMENT TO IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY AND OVERALL HEALTH. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, ALONG WITH CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BREATHE PA REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SLEEP APNEA.BREATHE PA PROUDLY HOSTED THE 11TH ANNUAL TUBERCULOSIS (TB) CONFERENCE, A TWO-DAY EVENT HELD ON MARCH 12-13TH. ORGANIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND RUTGERS UNIVERSITY GLOBAL TB INSTITUTE, THE CONFERENCE FEATURED PRESENTATIONS FROM NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TB EXPERTS. THE CONFERENCE ALSO INCLUDED A POWERFUL PATIENT PERSPECTIVE WHOSE PERSONAL STORY UNDERSCORED THE HUMAN IMPACT OF TUBERCULOSIS. THE TUBERCULOSIS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM REACHED 316 HEALTHCARE WORKERS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE AND BEST PRACTICES ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE TB PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND CARE.

TOBACCO EDUCATION AND CESSATION- STAFF/ADMINISTRATION TRAINING - THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND HIGHER EDUCATION STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO TOBACCO AND NICOTINE EDUCATION. ALL ASPECTS OF TOBACCO AND NICOTINE USE ARE ADDRESSED, INCLUDING CIGARETTES, SMOKELESS TOBACCO, ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES, MARIJUANA, HOOKAH, CIGARS, AND PIPES. USING A VARIETY OF VISUALS, SCHOOL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY DEVICES AND THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF NICOTINE.SMOKELESS SATURDAY CONTINUED TO GROW ITS IMPACT ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, EXPANDING ITS REACH TO 37 COUNTIES AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM RECEIVED 972 REFERRALS FROM 145 PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 19 LOCAL JUDGES, WHILE DELIVERING TOBACCO AND NICOTINE PREVENTION EDUCATION TO 2,796 STUDENTS AND STAFF. BY ADDING 53 NEW REFERRAL SOURCES, SMOKELESS SATURDAY REINFORCED ITS ROLE AS A TRUSTED ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION AND A VITAL RESOURCE FOR SCHOOLS, HELPING MORE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF TOBACCO AND NICOTINE USE AND SUPPORTING HEALTHIER OUTCOMES STATEWIDE.SMOKE FREE FOR LIFE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT TOBACCO CESSATION EFFORTS THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH TRUSTED HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM WAS DELIVERED IN COLLABORATION WITH INDIANA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, GATEWAY REHABILITATION CENTER, ADAGIO HEALTH AND ITS SUBCONTRACTORS, ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK, AND PRIMARY HEALTH NETWORK, STRENGTHENING A NETWORK OF TRAINED PROFESSIONALS EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WORKING TO QUIT TOBACCO. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, SMOKE FREE FOR LIFE REINFORCED ITS ROLE IN EXPANDING ACCESS TO COORDINATED, EVIDENCE-BASED CESSATION SUPPORT AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE LONG-TERM, TOBACCO-FREE LIVES.