Asthma therapy in the observation unit

There are many documented advantages of observation unit (OU) management of asthma compared with inpatient hospitalization. These advantages include: cost effectiveness, avoidance of inpatient hospitalization, better quality of life, and greater patient satisfaction with effective care. Recent national guidelines stress the importance of nonpharmacologic management of asthma, such as patient education, self-management accompanied by a written individualized treatment plan, and the use of controller drugs. The OU provides an excellent opportunity to include this critical portion of management in the treatment plan of the asthmatic patient. In this article, an overview of asthma is presented and the definition and pathophysiology of asthma is discussed. Asthma therapy with regard to quick relief and controller drugs is summarized. Observation unit experience with asthma management is reviewed and areas of research and the future for OU management of asthma are outlined.