Phone --314.286.2825 Pamela Breitweiser, Manager-Healthy Kids Express
Phone--314.286.0949 Lisa Meadows, Manager-Healthy Kids Express, Asthma Program
Community Resource Reference Guide
Video: Living with Asthma... ...A Guide to Controlling Your Asthma
Asthma Community Events
Healthy Kids Express is a mobile van program designed to bring health care to children in St. Louis city, surrounding counties and the Metro East. This program offers a range of screenings including hearing, vision; physical exams, scoliosis checks, immunizations, anemia, lead, dental and asthma. Children from one to 18 years are eligible for care through this program. Healthy Kids Express provides services to 10,000 children per year and is made possible through the generosity of donors to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Take a virtual tour of Healthy Kids Express
AIM for Healthy Kids
Due to the increasing number of children in the city of St. Louis diagnosed with asthma, Healthy Kids Express implemented an Asthma Intervention Model program in St. Louis public schools. Working in cooperation with school administrators, school nurses, students and parents, health care professionals provide asthma management free of charge directly at the schools. Asthma management includes exams by a nurse practitioner that include Spirometry, which is a special test to measure lung function. Children are offered flu shotsand asthma equipment such as Peak Flow Meters and Aerochambers. Individualized Asthma Action plans are devised, and the program has partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to provide all students enrolled with allergy proof mattress and pillow encasements. Having the asthma program in the schools decreases barriers to care, heightens asthma awaremess, and helps kids with asthma stay well.
The current program offers 1:1 and group education to parents, teachers and students at the school. The program is equipped with a social worker who links families in need of assistance to appropriate community resources. This year the program will offer a traveling Asthma Carnival to various community events and participate in delivering educational sessions to parents in the community in partnership with the hospital's ACE (Asthma Community Education) classes.
Tour the Healthy Kids Express van:
Waiting Area
Front Exam Room
Driver's Chair
Restroom
Computer
Lab Area
Refrigerators
Back Exam Room
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1 -- Waiting Area
While waiting for services to be provided, children are able to enjoy educational videos ranging from home,helmet and/or fire safety,to learning how to get along with family members and friends.
All the comforts of home can be found on the Healthy Kids Express van including:
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2 -- Front Exam Room
Physicalexams and scoliosis tests are performed in this room. Children are reassured that this roomoffers “No Ouchies." Parents are encouraged to be present during their child's physical exam.
3 -- Driver's Chair
Oftenwhen the exam is complete, children are invited to sit in the driver’s seat and pretend to drive the van as a reward.
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4-- Restroom
Healthy Kids Expressis well equipped for any type of emergency. The van offers running water inthree sinksand a working toilet. The vehicle's water tank capacity is approximately 20 gallons, and the holding tank capacity is approximately 80 gallons. |
5 -- Computer
All medical results are recorded and stored. The school or daycare center receives a copy of each child's test results. The van'sPNPs, RNs and social workers offer complete case management.
6 -- Lab Area
The lab area is where the van staff uses a portable Lead Care analyzer and a Hemocue to run blood specimens.Children who visit the van receive an accurate anemia and lead level withinfive minutes of the specimen being drawn.
7 -- Refrigerators
Immunizations are kept in these refrigerators. Vaccinations are a big component of the program, which helps toensurechildren are compliant for admission to school.
8 -- Back Exam Room
This chair alsofunctions as a dental chair for dental screenings. Children sit in this chair for hearing screens. The chair can be easily adjusted to the screener’s height, offeringthe best otoscopic view of the child's tympanic membrane. Also in this chair children sit, usually on a staff member’s lap, while their finger is pricked for lead and anemia tests.