UI Health Pediatrics

CHICAGO Plan

Clinical Study Seeking to Improve Treatment for Children with Asthma Begins Recruiting Participants

Asthma affects millions of children and is a leading cause for emergency department visits in children. The Coordinated Healthcare Interventions for Childhood Asthma Gaps in Outcomes (CHICAGO) Plan research study was designed specifically to address gaps in the care of children with asthma and understand how best to put into action asthma guidelines in the emergency department and in the home.

The CHICAGO Plan is made up of six major medical centers in Chicago including:

• University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)
• University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital
• Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
• Rush University Medical Center
• Sinai Medical Center
• John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County

The CHICAGO Plan will provide patient focused support, which will take place in the emergency department (ED) and/or at home. The goal is to improve outcomes in minority children looking for care in the ED for uncontrolled asthma. Our study focuses on educating the patients and their families through better communication. The success of our study will be measured through interviews with the children's caregivers. It will focus on outcomes meaningful to children, caregivers, and families such as:

• Not missing school
• Being able to participate in sports
• Lower anxiety
• Parents not missing work

The CHICAGO Plan also gives stakeholders a major role in the development and implementation of the program. The project collaborative involves:

• Respiratory Health Association
• Chicago Asthma Consortium
• City of Chicago Department of Public Health
• IIT Institute of Design
• Illinois Emergency Department Asthma Surveillance Program

UI Health and others are committed to improve asthma outcomes in children. If your child is in UI Health's Emergency Department for an asthma attack, our CHICAGO Plan research coordinator may be available to evaluate your child and see if they meet the criteria to become part of the CHICAGO Plan.