WVU Medicine Children’s is extending the reach of Project BREATHE, a statewide initiative dedicated to asthma education and management for pediatric patients and their families across West Virginia.
The Mountain State ranks among the highest in the nation for respiratory conditions, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, in both children and adults.
Air pollution, smoking, obesity, poverty, and access to resources are all factors that lead to developing asthma. Educating individuals on these triggers helps manage their asthma.
Having personally managed asthma while growing up, Saif Al Qatarneh, M.D., pediatric pulmonologist and medical director of WVU Medicine Children’s Project BREATHE, understands firsthand the impact that proper education and support can have.
“Asthma doesn’t just affect the lungs,” he said. “It affects every aspect of a child’s life. Project BREATHE is about giving families the tools they need to breathe easier.”
Project BREATHE was launched in 2018 to provide comprehensive asthma education and care coordinate for children up to age 18.
The program was born from Dr. Al Qatarneh’s observation that many children hospitalized for asthma were not receiving proper education or individualized action plans for managing their condition.
In partnership with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the program empowers families through asthma self-management education, home visits to identify potential asthma triggers, and coordinated patient care. Telemedicine e-consults with pediatric pulmonologists are also available, allowing the program to reach families in even the most remote areas of the state.
In 2024, Project BREATHE received a major boost through an EXHALE grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enabling WVU Medicine Children’s to expand its services throughout West Virginia and into surrounding regions.
Children or families in need of asthma education can call 304-598-5000 ext.132724
To learn more about the WVU Medicine Children’s, visit WVUKids.com.
