Since 2012, more than 73,000 schools have enrolled in the EpiPen4Schools^® program, and results from surveys of participating schools demonstrate the need to continue to engage all schools. According to the most recently published data from our EpiPen4Schools survey, there were more than 2,000 anaphylactic events in 2014/2015, as reported by more than 12,000 schools participating in the program, and of the events where epinephrine was administered, half were treated with an epinephrine auto-injector provided by the program. Food was the most common trigger, though in 33% of events, the trigger was unknown.  Nearly 25% of these occurred in individuals with no previously known allergies.

For students and other individuals with known severe allergies, they must always take care to avoid their allergens and have access to epinephrine, the only first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, should exposure occur. There are several epinephrine choices now available on the market. If your constituents have a prescription for EpiPen^® or EpiPen Jr^® Auto-Injectors, please help ensure they are familiar with the patient resources Mylan offers.

Mylan’s Epinephrine Auto-Injector Patient Resources

·         Includes information about the authorized generic for EpiPen Auto-Injector; the savings cards available for both EpiPen Auto-Injector and the authorized generic; Mylan’s patient assistance program and the EpiPen4Schools program.

 EpiPen4Schools Infographic and EpiPen4Schools Fact Sheet

·         Provides more detail about the EpiPen4Schools program, including participation statistics, survey results and myths and facts.

Additional information 

We are in the process of updating our organization's policies and procedures.    The last review was several years ago.   I have attached  proposed edits to AAE’s policies for your review and comment.

The underlined parts are the proposed changes.

Please send any comments to: admin@asthmaeducators.org by September 25.

Thanks,

Gregory Metz

AAE President 

Association of Asthma Educators
Policy & Procedure Title:	AE-C Preparation and Recertification Course Policy
Current Version # and Date Approved:	Version #1 – April 1, 2009

Purpose Statement:

The Association of Asthma Educators will provide educational products that support the mission of this organization in raising the competency of individuals who educate patients and families affected by asthma.

In order to maintain the scientific integrity of the educational programs produced by AAE, a review coordinator, advisor, and multidisciplinary panel will be appointed (remove annually ) to review and revise all educational programs offered by AAE.

Policies and Procedures:

I.                The Executive Committee of Directors will appoint a Review Coordinator, one advisor and multidisciplinary panel to review and/or revise the AE-C Preparation and Recertification Course by the April or May Board Meeting. The Board may ask the Education Committee Chair or the appointed Review Coordinator to make recommendations for the advisor and multidisciplinary panel.

II.                The Review Coordinator, advisor and multidisciplinary panel may serve consecutive years in this capacity as approved by the Executive Committee.

III.                The Review Coordinator shall oversee the multidisciplinary panel activities and will be responsible for communication with the board of directors regarding panel activities.

IV.                The review advisor shall have extensive involvement in past development or presentation of the respective educational program and will serve as a content expert.

V.                The interdisciplinary review panel shall be composed of a diverse group of individuals such as nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, clinicians, social workers, care coordinators, lay educators or others who represent the diverse AAE membership base.  

 

Dear AAE members,

We are in the process of updating our organization's bylaws.  The last review was in 2013.  I have attached the proposed edits to AAE’s bylaws for your review and comment.

Please send any comments to: admin@asthmaeducators.org by September 18.

Here is a link to our current  bylaws that are posted on our website.

https://www.asthmaeducators.org/Resources/Documents/Bylaws-UPDATED%20073015.pdf

Below is the proposed changes.   The primary changes are: addition of  a student membership, taking out wording related to “mailing” ballots, etc to membership (since we now communicate via email) and lastly increasing the amount of money the treasurer / officers can authorize to spend (the annual meeting expenses are often greater than current bylaw limits).

Thanks,

Gregory Metz

AAE President

___________________________________________________________________

Proposed Edits to AAE Bylaws

Article III: MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Association shall be composed of three levels:

Student – Open to full-time students in nursing, medicine, pharmacy, respiratory care, social work or others in a full time training program related to asthma care.   Proof of current enrollment is required.  Student members have full voting privileges. 

Associate - Open to any individual with an interest in the field of asthma education who wishes to increase her or his asthma knowledge.  Associate members have full voting privileges.

Professional - Open to any individual who is licensed, certified or holds a professional degree in a health-related field and is actively involved in asthma education within the past year.  Professional members have full voting privileges. 

Article IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 3- Composition

A Board of Directors consisting of 12 members shall govern the Association.  The Board of Directors shall be elected by the general membership and each elected member of the Board shall serve a three-year term, with one third of the members being replaced or re-elected each year.   All members of the Board of Directors shall be voting members.  No more than 2 Associate members may serve on the Board of Directors at any given time.  Student members may not serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 4- Election and Term

(Second paragraph):

Under Board approval, the Secretary of the Board and/or the Chair of the Nominating Committee shall instruct the Management Company to prepare and send the ballots and/or ballot information.  All members of the Association in good standing are entitled to vote and the ballot or information on ballots and voting shall be emailed to each member.

Article VIII: FISCAL MATTERS

Section 2- Expenditures

The Treasurer and President have the authority to process expenditures up to $2500 on his or her signature alone.  Expenditures over $2500.00 may be made with the Treasurer’s or President’s signature AND the approval of one officer.  Any expenditure over $10,000 must be approved by all the officers. 

 

This morning, Teva announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved QVAR® RediHaler™ (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) inhalation aerosol for the maintenance treatment of asthma as a prophylactic therapy in patients 4 years of age and older. QVAR® RediHaler™ is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. As a partner, Teva Respiratory wanted to make us aware of this news as soon as it was made public.

QVAR® RediHaler™ differs from conventional metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) as it delivers medication via a breath-actuated MDI, eliminating the need for hand-breath coordination during inhalation. QVAR® RediHaler™ administers the same active drug ingredient found in QVAR® (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) Inhalation Aerosol, with a different mode of delivery. In addition, QVAR® RediHaler™ is designed to be used without shaking or priming. It should not be used with a spacer or volume holding chamber.

 Teva plans to discontinue sales of the current QVAR® MDI formulation upon the launch of QVAR® RediHaler™ in the first quarter of 2018. Patients and caregivers are encouraged to speak with a healthcare professional about how this transition may impact their current treatment plan.

Please see Important Safety Information below and access to the full Prescribing Information at www.QvarRediHaler.com.

DEADLINE EXTENDED!  Due to overwhelming interest expressed at the annual conference, we have extended the Board of Directors nominations deadline to August 18, 2017! Many thanks to those of you who have already submitted their applications.

The AAE is focused on growth and more than ever it is important to identify leaders among our members. Your interest, support and skill will help our organization continue growing and achieving our mission “to promote asthma education as an integral comprehensive asthma program, to raise the competence of health care professionals who educate individuals and families affected by asthma, and to raise the standard of care and quality of asthma education delivered to those with asthma.”

Complete details available HERE https://www.asthmaeducators.org/news/4914412

Thank you for your membership, dedication and interest in serving the Association of Asthma Educators.

Best regards,

Bill Pruitt, MBA, RRT, CPFT, AE-C, FAARC

Chair, Nominating Committee

The AAE is focused on growth and more than ever it is important to identify leaders among our members. Your interest, support and skill will help our organization continue growing and achieving our mission “to promote asthma education as an integral comprehensive asthma program, to raise the competence of health care professionals who educate individuals and families affected by asthma, and to raise the standard of care and quality of asthma education delivered to those with asthma.”

This is the time for a call to action to submit an application to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Asthma Educators. The Board consists of twelve (12) members. Each of these twelve (12) members serves a three (3) year term. A board member can only serve on the board for two (2) completed three year terms. Once the two terms are served, the board member must rotate off the board for two (2) years before reapplying for the board. The 2017 call for nominations has four (4) positions to be filled.

Who can serve? Members in good standing with the Association who have held their AAE membership for at least one year prior to applying are eligible to apply. A committee made up of five board members will review the applications and complete an evaluation form on each applicant.

How do I apply? To submit your application to serve, you must send your current CV that highlights your experience relevant to asthma and asthma education, along with a head photo, and a 100-word vision statement for AAE and how your membership on the board will contribute to your vision, to the Co-Chairs of the Nominating Committee. Applications will be accepted until August 4, 2017. No late submissions will be accepted. Send your information to Bill Pruitt, wpruitt@southalabama.edu.

How is one elected to the board? Once all the applications have been received and reviewed, a slate of candidates for available board positions will be sent to the membership for election by the members. This general election process starts on the first Monday in October, 2017 and closes on October 31, 2017. A letter of acceptance will be sent to successful nominees notifying them of their election to the Board. A letter will also be sent to each person that applied that did not get elected. The newly elected Board of Directors will take effect January 1, 2018.

The strength of AAE can only grow when served by the diversity of its members. We strongly encourage you to consider applying to serve on the Board of Directors. New members bring new ideas and strengths to our organization. It is your knowledge and expertise that helps the AAE to grow and achieve its mission.

We encourage you to look at the bylaws on the website www.asthmaeducators.org—as we follow those guidelines for the election process.

We are always happy to speak to you about the application process and board responsibilities. Feel free to e-mail us. You will find our e-mail address listed under the Board of Directors on the website. The deadline for applying is August 4, 2017.

Thank you for your membership, dedication and interest in serving the Association of Asthma Educators.

Best regards,

Bill Pruitt, MBA, RRT, CPFT, AE-C, FAARC

Chair, Nominating Committee

wpruitt@southalabama.edu

 

June is National Healthy Homes Month! Contact us to discover our Asthma Education for the Community Health Worker program and how it can integrate with your community healthy homes program and improve the lives of families living with asthma.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USEPAIAQ/bulletins/19e3f27

The AAE would like to introduce a new program called Asthma Advocates of the Month.    If you know anyone doing meaningful asthma work, you can nominate that person to receive this award.  Each month, the nominees will receive a commendation letter from the AAE and be listed on our website.   Each nominee will also receive a small gift as a token of our appreciation for his/her efforts.   The recipient does not have to be an active member of the AAE.   If you would like to nominate someone, please email gmetz@ouhsc.edu with the person’s name, email address and a few sentences on why he/she deserves this recognition.

The AAE is celebrating Asthma Month with a membership drive!
Celebrate Asthma Month with us by recruiting new members and you could win a 1 year free membership to the AAE! Entry is easy, when you recruit a new member, simply have them list you as the referring member on the membership application page. There are no limits as to how many times you enter or new members you recruit. Winners with be drawn at the conclusion of the month!

Reduce Indoor Allergens This Spring: Tips for a Healthier Indoor Environment

EPA Indoor Environments Division sent this bulletin at 04/25/2017 11:05 AM EDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Reduce Indoor Allergens This Spring: Tips for a Healthier Indoor Environment Allergy triggers, or allergens, can be found on surfaces and in the air in your home. Get Busy This Spring With Practical Tips to Control Allergens Indoors Limit the amount of allergens that enter your home. Use doormats to help trap allergens before they enter the home. Clean doormats frequently. Consider removing shoes after entering the home. Change heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and air cleaner filters on schedule (see the manufacturer’s instructions). Do not smoke indoors. Reduce allergens that are produced or can develop indoors. Dry wet items quickly. Prevent mold growth from water spills or leaks by acting quickly when home furnishings or other items get wet. Usually mold won’t grow if items are dried within 24–48 hours. Make sure to fix any leaks promptly as well. Dust often. Vacuum and wash bedding weekly. House dust mites, animal dander and other allergy-causing agents can be reduced, although not completely eliminated, through regular cleaning. Control indoor humidity to help prevent the growth of mold and other organisms. Use kitchen exhaust fans when cooking. Exhaust fans should be vented to the outdoors. Use bathroom exhaust fans or open the window when showering. Consider using air conditioners or dehumidifiers as needed to help control indoor humidity. Air conditioners reduce humidity as they cool the air. Did you know? You can measure the humidity at home with a small, inexpensive moisture or humidity meter, available at many hardware stores. Try to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent and ideally between 30 and 50 percent. If using a humidifier or dehumidifier, routinely empty the water and clean the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent mold and bacteria from growing or getting into the air. Clean window-unit air conditioner drip pans routinely, and replace filters per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USEPAIAQ/bulletins/196491c