Meeting Information

ClinicalCommittee

San Francisco  Board of Supervisors Asthma Task Force

Clinical Committee Minutes

January 28, 2008

Present:  Stephanie Manfre, Gloria Thornton, Karen Cohn, Peg Strub, Anjali Nath

Guest: Jennifer Flattery

1. Guest speaker- Jennifer Flattery- works at DPH (California) on work related asthma.  Most asthma in US appears in adults, not children.  96% of deaths, 2/3 of office visits.  Higher prevalence in inner cities, females, African-American

·        Work related asthma (WRA) -airflow limitation due to specific exposure in the work setting.  Sensitizer and irritant induce main categories.  New onset and work aggravated.

·        15% of adult asthma is attributed to occupational factors (adults with new asthma). 5,600-7,200 adults with WRA at any time

·        350 agents have been documented to cause new onset WRA, most are sensitizers.  Also irritants- exposure to high levels of a substance that can cause asthma.  Irritants can cause asthma in a more chronic way (i.e. chlorine)

·        Jennifer works at CA work related asthma prevention program, in environmental health branch of state health dept.  All work related injury reportable to state, by workers comp insurance.   Department interviews all persons with asthma.  Sometimes does worksite investigations, if there are high levels of reporting from that site.

·        Utility workers, construction, renovations, firefighters, correctional officers have high levels of WRA

·        Irritant asthma most common category of cases (dust highest)

·        Latex highest sensitizer allergy

·        Most SF cases are in service categories, hospitals

·        New asthma guidelines- health care providers need to ask people with asthma about their work, serial peak flow at work and home, most health care providers do not ask about asthma in the workplace

·        Doctor in NY developed 2 questions to screen for work-related asthma

·        Committee thinks that this would be a good topic for Asthma Network- potential for May 9^th meeting

2. May 9^th Asthma Network Meeting

·        Nadine Burke confirmed- Stephanie or Anjali will email to confirm

·        Elaine Poone may not be interested, will email Sharon Youmans about speaking about new meds

·        Nan potential speaker on specific issues, case studies- shouldn’t be first presentation.  Breakout may be good possibility for this session

·        Stephanie will email Jennifer Flaherty about potentially speaking

·        Hands-on Spirometry and interpretation/consultation may be a possibility for a breakout session ( Julie, Gail, Jody Thirtyacre ?) Andi Marmor could be a lead for this session or a potential breakout

·        Peg can do second breakout about adult asthma case studies

·        Chris Garvey could potentially do sleep apnea (need to address pediatric population)

·        Other options:  GERD, Practical use of NIH Guidelines,

·        With potential breakouts, may not be a need for tables (just chairs)

POTENTIAL SCHEDULE:

9am- open

10- Pharm

11- Diversity/AA

12:10- 12:40- lunch

12:40-1:40- occupational asthma

1:40-2:40 breakouts

2:40-3- wrap-up and evaluation