Evaluation of a Remote Asthma Monitoring Program to Improve Health Outcomes in Pediatric Asthma

This is a pilot, prospective observational cohort study of 20 children with poorly controlled persistent asthma over 12 months exploring response to an intensive asthma monitoring and education program. The program consists of the following administered over a 6-month period: 1) A remote medication monitoring system (Propeller devices and monitoring administered by St. Mary's Healthcare) and 2) home visits by St. Mary's asthma nurses. The Propeller devices are electronic inhaler sensors which monitor the use of metered dose inhalers (as well as other medication delivery devices) and captures the date and time of use. This is an FDA approved device aimed at promoting asthma self-management in a cost-effective manner. The sensor stores and transmits information via Bluetooth to a paired wireless data transmitter, which sends the data to a secured server accessible by St. Mary's Healthcare.

The study will consist of two phases described below. Phase 1 (Months 1-6): Subjects are enrolled in the St. Mary's Healthcare home visiting and remote medication monitoring program through referral by the physicians/nurse practitioners providing asthma care and the Weill Cornell Pediatric Asthma Program. They will then undergo an initial home visit by a St. Mary's asthma program nurse, where they are equipped with Propeller devices for their controller medication (as prescribed by their physician) and rescue medication (albuterol), and are connected to St. Mary's remote monitoring system. Remote monitoring, home visits and in-person/video visit clinical assessment with asthma education will be provided during this time (see below). The St. Mary's remote monitoring system and telehealth nurse collects medication administration data obtained through the Propeller monitoring system in real-time, which is made available clinically to the subjects' medical providers on a monthly basis for review, or if there is substantial deviation from prescribed medication administration or increased use of rescue medication necessitating an intervention by St. Mary's telehealth nurses.

Additionally, the following outcomes data will be collected on a monthly basis via telephone or office/video visit by the study team to assess overall asthma control and health care use: Number of emergency room visits or hospitalizations for asthma in the last month, number of urgent care or primary care visits for asthma symptoms, number of albuterol prescriptions renewed, number of oral steroid prescriptions filled, number of missed school days, and an ACT score to assess control. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) will be performed at the time of enrollment.

Phase 2 (Months 7-12): Subjects will have completed remote asthma medication monitoring by the St. Mary's Program, and are observed for an additional 6 months by the study team to determine the response to the administered program. Subjects will have outcomes data (as described in Phase 1) collected via telephone or video visit; a minimum of 2 provider office or video visits will occur during this phase. PFTs will be performed at least once during this period.

Remote monitoring: Remote devices collect prospective data regarding use of controller medication as prescribed and any doses of rescue medication administered. If a patient is using their rescue inhaler above or using their controller inhaler less than prescribed, a St. Mary's Telehealth Nurse will receive an alert in real time. The Telehealth Nurse will contact the patient or caregiver to assess the situation and intervene, either by providing reminders or assessing for changes in clinical status. The Telehealth Nurse will initiate communication with their medical provider or emergency services as appropriate.

Home visits: Subjects enrolled in this program will be provided with up to 6 asthma nursing visits over the 12month study period as standard practice of St. Mary's home visitation program and based on the individual needs of the subject. A minimum of 2 nursing visits will be administered during phase 1 for clinical monitoring and asthma education/asthma management reinforcement.

Provider visits: Patients will have a physician office or video visit with NYPH-WCM providers scheduled during Month 2 and Month 5 of Phase 1 for standard clinical follow up, and to review their medication usage and provide directed feedback. This will be bundled with a dedicated asthma education session with WCM-Pediatric Asthma Program asthma educators to review/reinforce medication administration techniques and provide tailored asthma education for the development of asthma self-management skills. There will be a minimum of 2 scheduled Provider visits during Phase 2.