BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER. The more you know about asthma or allergies, the better your quality of life can be. Thats where SMHCs Asthma and Allergy Center comes in. We promote disease management, control and education for hundreds of patients who suffer from a variety of these respiratory conditions.
The Asthma and Allergy Center provides consultation and evaluation by Board-certified pulmonary physicians and others who specialize in allergies and immunology. The Center offers personalized education and training for families as well as patients, in addition to monitoring and follow-up care.
We develop personalized action and rescue plans to ensure that both participants and care givers will feel confident about how to manage acute attacks or simply follow ongoing therapy. Our staff is friendly, our environment is pleasant, and we provide state-of-the-art approaches to the management of asthma and allergies.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and their elements play a role. In susceptible individuals, this inflammation causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, particularly at night and in the early morning. The most common cause of asthma is allergy.
Allergies are a specific reaction to a normally harmless substance one that does not bother most people. Allergic people often are sensitive to more than one substance. Allergens enter the body in one of three ways: airborne particles such as pollen, dust and mold, insect venom, or certain types of food. Medicines can also cause allergic reactions.
Patient Benefits
As participants in the Asthma and Allergy Center, patients are given the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives. SMHCs mission is to assist them in that goal.
When recurrent respiratory problems are controlled, those who suffer from them find more freedom to pursue those things they need and want from life. With proper care, we seek to help them
Achieve independence and self-reliance Maintain normal levels of activity Prevent recurrent attacks of asthma Minimize emergency department visits or hospitalizations Optimize medication with minimal or no adverse side effects Receive education, training and support to gain control over the disease
Health Care Provider Benefits
The Asthma and Allergy Center functions as an interactive communication tool between physicians and participants. We also serve both patients and providers as a single resource for progressive information case by case.
Providers can expect the Asthma and Allergy Center to furnish information on:
Peak flows Spirometry Signs and symptoms Oxygen saturation Vital signs Allergy consultations Pulmonary function testing Home evaluations for environmental factors
Testimonials
"My daughter was diagnosed with asthma at age three. I had no idea what the disease was or how to treat it properly. Although my pediatrician did give us medicine, we were not given any education on asthma or how to keep it under control. We spent many nights up with her coughing, vomiting and gasping for air.
"The employees there are some of the most dedicated, professional and kind medical people I have ever met. They immediately made my daughter feel at ease.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for these dedicated professionals who go above and beyond their duties in helping people get well."
~Hughesville, MD
"When I came to the Asthma and Allergy Center, I was desperate for help. I turned to every doctor I could and had been on Theophyllin and Theodur for 20 years, off and on. I had been hospitalized more times than I care to remember in every hospital in P.G. County.
"When I came to the Asthma & Allergy Center, I was looking for a little hope. Instead, I found a miracle.
"I have decreased my hospital visits, decreased my medications by 75%, and am in better health. The insurance company has truly benefited in cost savings, and I have a rewarding life and job and now can enjoy life to its fullest. I have not had an attack since I've been with the Center. "
