Digital check-ins, connected inhalers help control asthma (Modern Healthcare)

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to asthma management is proper inhaler technique, with data indicating that many asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations could be reduced if patients — often children — demonstrated adherence to proper inhaler technique. A program between emocha and LifeBridge Health found that daily asynchronous video check-ins could benefit pediatric asthma patients: helping to create technique consistency, lessen asthma-related hospital visits, and reduce oral steroid prescriptions. Dr. Scott Krugman, a study investigator and vice-chair of the pediatrics department at LifeBridge’s Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai, explains: “Even if you show them how to do it, you don’t know how they’re doing it at home.” Other methods of tracking asthma management are increasingly becoming digitized, including wearables like Apple watches, or pieces added to inhalers to track their use and progress. Over time, these types of services may be included in new reimbursement codes, or become part of value-based contracts.