One Child’s Story…

José, age 11, lived in a doublewide trailer provided by his parents’ employer, located in the center of grape and hop fields, where he slept on the floor. He had missed 1½ weeks of school over the past 12 months and had been to the emergency department (ED) twice in the past 18 months due to asthma.

José’s parents had not established a primary care provider for José; he was being seen at the local community extended hours clinic for his asthma.

The clinic’s asthma program convinced José’s parents to select a clinic pediatrician to see José on a regular basis. It also provided them dust mite covers and a pillow and convinced a local bed manufacturer to provide a free bed.

During the 12 months Jose’s family participated in the Yakima Valley Childhood Asthma Project, José had no additional visits to the ED, 1 visit to the Extended Hours Clinic and missed only 2 days of school due to asthma.