According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma is the leading chronic illness among children and adolescents in the United States. Asthma affects 7.1 million children under the age of 18, is the third leading cause of hospitalizations in children under 15, and is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. One team of school nurses and community health leaders aim to combat this health issue in Ohio, as part of the Johnson & Johnson School Health Leadership Program (JJSHLP).
Michele Wilmoth, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN, director of school health services at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio, is a program Fellow who is part of the asthma management project.