AIR Louisville to use digital health technology to improve asthma

Mar 20 2015

Today marks the start of AIR Louisville, the first-of-its-kind data-driven collaboration among public, private and philanthropic organizations to use digital health technology to improve asthma. Kentucky has the fourth highest adult asthma prevalence in the US and Louisville consistently ranks among the top 20 "most challenging" cities to live in with asthma. Leveraging Propeller Health's FDA-approved medication inhaler sensors, the program will track when, where and how often residents of Louisville experience asthma symptoms. These data, along with Propeller Health's personalized asthma management system, will help patients to better manage their asthma symptoms, and aid city leaders in making smarter decisions about how to keep the air clean.

"The goal of the AIR Louisville program is to use data from Propeller's connected medication sensors to make smarter choices about how we improve the quality of life for our residents," said Ted Smith, Chief of Civic Innovation at Louisville Metro Government and Executive Director of the Institute for Healthy Air Water and Soil. "By collecting data about where and when residents have asthma attacks, we can help inform public policy that will reduce the burden of asthma city-wide. The program will also help physicians, patients and employers understand asthma triggers and do a better job managing this health problem in our city."

Participating in AIR Louisville are the City of Louisville and Mayor's office, Propeller Health, makers of FDA-approved digital health solutions for asthma and COPD, the Institute for Healthy Air, Water and Soil, Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, local employer partners such as Brown-Forman, local health plans such as Passport Health Plan, and local asthma specialty clinics like Family Allergy & Asthma.

The Institute is working with Propeller Health and all the program partners to give the community better access to data about public health and the environment.

With a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and with participation from local employers, health plans and clinics, AIR Louisville will provide over two thousand sensors to Jefferson County residents who will then collect data over the 2 year program. Data collected will be used to help patients self-manage their disease, to help providers manage asthma more efficiently in the community and to help the City of Louisville learn patterns of asthma burden correlated to environmental factors (such as pollution, roads, parks, etc).

SOURCE Propeller Health