Press Releases | For Immediate Release

RCRMC Breathmobile® Designed to Keep Kids “In” School and “Out” of the Emergency Room

Moreno Valley, CA - The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), California Chapter will co-host a Dedication Ceremony with Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) to introduce the new Riverside County Regional Medical Center Breathmobile® on Monday, April 14, 2008 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at RCRMC.

The Breathmobile® is an “asthma clinic on wheels,” that provides free medication, asthma diagnosis, treatment and education for children with asthma at their school site. The project was developed by the California Chapter of the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America to address the rising morbidity rates of asthma in high risk disadvantaged children. Evaluation studies of the Breathmobile® have demonstrated dramatic improvement for patients treated on the Breathmobile® including; fewer emergency room visits, improved pulmonary function, a decrease in school absenteeism and an improved quality of life.

There are currently 9 Breathmobiles® throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino and Riverside County. They visit over 200 elementary, middle, and high schools as well as several comprehensive health clinics throughout Southern California. The RCRMC Breathmobile® is staffed with a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, respiratory therapist and a patient service worker. They will visit approximately 25 selected schools within Temecula, Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore, Perris and Hemet every six to eight weeks for follow-up care. The Riverside Breathmobile began seeing children at Lusieno Elementary School in Temecula, California, on October 16, 2007.

Invited ceremony guests include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senators Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein and Jim Battin, the South Coast Air Quality Management Board (AQMD), Riverside County Board of Supervisors, Congresswoman Mary Bono-Mack and other distinguished guests.

Those interested in attending the Dedication Ceremony are asked to RSVP to Felita Jones, Breathmobile® Project Manager with AAFA at (800) 624-0044 or ChaiTae Hasty-Rodriguez, Public Relations Coordinator with RCRMC at (951) 486-4213.

ChaiTae Hasty-Rodriguez
Public Relations Coordinator
RCRMC
(951) 486-4213
chasty@co.riverside.ca.us

Felita Jones
Project Manager Breathmobile® AAFA
(800) 624-0044
fjones@aafa-ca.org