Lung Association Brings its Asthma Educator Institute to Rochester

Register by April 1 and you may qualify for a $100 scholarship

ROCHESTER, NY (03/22/2012)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association in New York, in cooperation with the Regional Community Asthma Network of the Finger Lakes (RCAN), will be bringing its Asthma Educator Institute toRochester this May, thanks in part to the generous financial support of Monroe Plan for Medical Care. The two-day course is being held at Unity Health System's St. Mary's Campus on May 10-11 and is designed to prepare qualified health care professionals for the National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) exam.

The American Lung Association Asthma Educator Institute was developed in January of 2003 and was recently updated to reflect the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma.

"We're very excited to be bringing this important educational opportunity to Rochester," said Jeff Seyler, President and CEO of the American Lung Association in New York. "This program helps prepare first-class asthma educators who will be on the front lines helping children and adults in the Greater Rochester area better manage their asthma."

"We are grateful to the physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and the many other healthcare professionals who are part of our coalition and will be teaching the various sections of this comprehensive course," said Cindy Trubisky," Director of the Regional Community Asthma Network of the Finger Lakes. "By teaching tomorrow's educators how to best help those suffering from asthma manage their disease, we are helping to reduce the burden of asthma in communities across our region."

The curriculum covers the content outlined in the NAECB Candidate Handbook and includes case reviews, hands-on skills demonstration and practice. The course is delivered by asthma experts in the community, including Certified Asthma Educators (AE-C).

The overall course objectives are:

• To prepare participants to provide NHLBI and NAEPP guideline directed asthma care to patients, families and health care providers across all settings.

• To identify the various roles of the asthma educator.

• To help prepare participants to pass the National Asthma Educator Certification Board exam.

• To network with health care providers/educators and organizations surrounding asthma care and asthma care policies.

This course is ideal for nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, masters prepared or C.H.E.S. Health Educators, social workers and AE-C's preparing for recertification.

More than more than 1.1 million adults living in New York State have asthma. Asthma occurs at any age but is more common in children than adults. While there is no cure for asthma, it can be managed and treated so that those who suffer can live normal, healthy lives. Asthma educators play a critical role in helping the many New Yorkers who suffer from asthma manage their disease.

Registration for the course is available online at www.alany.org/aeiroc. The cost of the course is $200; however, those who register prior to April 1 may be eligible for one of five available $100 scholarships. To learn more about the Asthma Educator Institute, visit www.alany.org. Those with questions may contact Liz D'Imperio at edimperio@alany.org

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About the American Lung Association in New York

Now in its second century, the American Lung Association in New York is the leading statewide organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, or to support our work, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.alany.org.

About the Regional Community Asthma Network of the Finger Lakes (RCAN)

RCAN is a grant funded nonprofit Asthma Coalition program of the American Lung Association in New York, serving the 9 counties in the Greater Rochester/ Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. The mission of the coalition is to promote partnerships that improve the quality of life of those affected by asthma. Our charge is to Reduce the Burden of Asthma and Improve Asthma Care for Children in the Finger Lakes region. To learn more about RCAN, visit www.rcanasthm.org