The Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc., (MCAN), is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization established to address the complex and growing problem of pediatric asthma.
MCAN is funded by the Merck Company Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck & Co., Inc. The mission of the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. is to support and advance evidence-based programs that improve the quality of life for children with asthma and their families and to reduce through dissemination of effective interventions the burden of the disease on them and society.
Let's Stop Fiddling Around while "Rome Burns"We are all familiar with the phrase "Nero fiddled while Rome burned" to describe irresponsible behavior in the midst of a crisis. Well, for those who monitor and are interested in the ongoing status of childhood asthma in this country, we are in the midst of a public health crisis. Let us be reminded that this is the most common chronic disease of children.
Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed what for many of us had become obvious – progress against asthma in the United States has stalled and we are losing ground. Yet federal asthma budgets are being cut by both the Administration and Congress, and asthma does not appear to be gaining the traction that is needed to address this major public health condition at the federal level.
How bad is it? Approximately 25 million Americans have asthma and the numbers are increasing every year and we don’t know why. Children have more asthma attacks than adults and the disease is especially devastating for children and families living in poor, minority and medically underserved communities. Asthma prevalence over the last 10 years has increased most significantly among black children – 17 percent of all black children in the United States currently have asthma.
We have known for a long time that asthma is the number one cause among chronic conditions of missed school days, and it is among the top three reasons why children end up in emergency rooms or are admitted into hospitals. It goes without saying that the economic consequences are staggering. To be more specific, the CDC report notes that asthma costs in the US increased by 6% (from $53 billion to $56 billion) between 2002 and 2007.
Health Promotion Practice Publishes Results from First Phase of MCAN Care Coordination Programs
WASHINGTON, DC, November 9, 2011 – Effective management of childhood asthma should extend beyond the doctor’s office into communities, homes and schools where children spend most of their time dealing with the disease, according to a collection of newly published studies. A key to successful implementation of childhood asthma management programs in “real-world” settings is a community-based care coordination approach that combines evidence-based science, asthma education and community engagement. These findings from five asthma management programs funded by the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN) were published as a supplement to the November issue of Health Promotion Practice, a Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) journal.
Innovative Partnership Delivers Quality Asthma Care to New Orleans Children
NEW ORLEANS, October 20, 2011 – The disappearance of reliable healthcare services in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina left many children with asthma no choice but to seek treatment in emergency rooms across town – if they sought care at all. Xavier University of Louisiana's Center for Minority Health & Health Disparities Research and Education (CMHDRE), Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans (DCSNO) and the Children's Health Fund (CHF) have teamed up to help reverse that trend by bringing reliable health care directly to these children. The organizations are partnering on the second phase of Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL), a program that has been helping New Orleans families manage their children's asthma since Katrina struck. The program is funded by MCAN and The Merck Company Foundation.
Non-profit Merck Childhood Asthma Network Invests Millions in Community Health Centers to Help Children Better Manage Asthma
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 2011 – The Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN) today announced more than $4 million in funding to implement the Community Healthcare for Asthma Management and Prevention of Symptoms (CHAMPS) partnership in five non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Centers. This investment in community health centers (CHC) is designed to demonstrate how asthma management tools proven effective in controlled trials, can be applied in real-world settings where many children and families most in need get care.
The Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc., (MCAN), is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization established to address the complex and growing problem of pediatric asthma.
Let's Stop Fiddling Around while "Rome Burns" We are all familiar with the phrase "Nero fiddled while Rome burned" to describe irresponsible behavior in the midst of a crisis. Well, for those who monitor and are interested in the ongoing status of childhood asthma in this country, we are in the midst of a public health crisis. Let us be reminded that this is the most common chronic disease of children.
