Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in children, but for those living in rural Missouri, the struggle is amplified by limited access to healthcare. Without consistent monitoring, even minor flare-ups can escalate into serious, life-threatening situations.
Now, thanks to an innovation that allows kids to be monitored and treated at home, and a pilot program led by BioSTL and its partners, rural kids are getting access to cutting-edge care.
The groundbreaking 18-month pilot program, called ALPACAH (At Last! Pediatric Asthma Care at Home!) is aimed at transforming pediatric asthma management in rural Missouri by providing families with monitoring tools and giving healthcare providers the critical information they need to manage pediatric asthma.
Rural communities are often the last to access emerging innovation and often the ones most in need of it. ALPACAH is a collaboration led by Anne Silea, BioSTL’s Center for Rural Health Innovation Manager, Dr. Ben Francisco, Executive Director of Asthma Ready Communities (ARC), and NuvoAir Medical, a leader in remote care for respiratory conditions. It is a joint effort to bridge the gaps between healthcare providers, new technology, and asthma patients in rural Missouri.
With ALPACAH, technology plays a pivotal role in reshaping the way asthma care is delivered. Instead of waiting for asthma symptoms to worsen or for an emergency room visit to trigger action, the program provides a proactive, data-driven approach.
Each child enrolled in the study is equipped with two simple, yet powerful tools: an in-home spirometer (to measure lung function) and an inhaler sensor (to track medication use and adherence). Both devices sync with a mobile app and are monitored by a virtual care team who can support parents and children when and where they need it. This proactive, data-driven approach helps prevent asthma symptoms from worsening and minimizes the need for emergency visits, ultimately providing better care for both the child and their family.
ALPACAH has organized Asthma Days—events in local clinics and health centers that aim to identify children at risk and equip healthcare providers with the necessary skills to use new technologies and integrate them into routine care.
But technology alone isn’t enough. That's where the human touch comes in. In addition to the remote monitoring tools, the ALPACAH program includes monthly check-ins and virtual coaching. This enables healthcare providers to offer tailored support, track early warning signs, and manage asthma more effectively.
It's not just about improving health outcomes. The ALPACAH study is also exploring the cost-effectiveness of this approach, aiming to prove that with the right tools and technology, asthma care can be more affordable and accessible for families in rural Missouri—and beyond.
The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable, scalable model of asthma care that can be expanded across the state, and eventually, to other underserved regions —urban and rural.
Despite the complexities of coordinating such an initiative in rural areas, the feedback from ALPACAH has been overwhelmingly positive. As reported by the Jefferson City, News Tribune, the study has been described as 'a breath of fresh air' for rural asthma patients, bringing hope and real change to families who previously felt isolated in their care.
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