Blog
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Advancing the Role of CHWs and Promotoras in Asthma Management: What We’re Doing
As a core part of our Health Care Equity goal, RAMP advocates for policies and programs to integrate CHWs and promotoras into the health care system, focusing on Medi-Cal given the disproportionate impact of asthma on low-income communities. RAMP also works to build the capacity of CHWs and promotoras to improve asthma management. Why CHWs and Promotoras? Community Health Workers…
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RAMP CHW Meeting: Asthma and Health Equity
On April 16th, RAMP hosted a CHW meeting on Asthma and Health Equity, presented by Esmeralda E. Morales, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Asthma and Sleep, Stanford University. Presentation slides can be found here.
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Supporting Asthma Awareness All May Long
The EPA offers helpful tools to support asthma awareness in your school or community for Asthma Awareness Month. Explore resources like an event planning kit, educational graphics on indoor asthma triggers and how to manage them, the Managing Asthma in the School Environment guide, and much more. Let’s work together to spread the word and…
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Webinar: Addressing Pests through Asthma Remediation
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the approved services under Asthma Remediation, part of Medi-Cal’s Community Supports program. As Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) staff or Asthma Remediation program managers, it’s essential to understand the benefits of IPM services and how IPM services can be incorporated into Asthma Remediation. In a one-hour virtual training,…
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Releases 2025 Allergy Capitals Report
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released its 2025 edition of its Allergy Capitals Report. The report explores how challenging it is to live with seasonal allergies in the top 100 U.S. cities. More than 100 million people in the United States live with various types of allergies every year. Many of…
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Study on Optimizing the Patient-Centered Approach to Managing Severe Asthma
A 2025 study released in PubMed highlights the significant burden severe asthma places on patients, emphasizing overlooked needs beyond physical symptoms. It examines four key issues: fatigue, sleep disturbances, physical inactivity, and reduced work productivity. Fatigue affects up to 90% of patients, while sleep disturbances impact 70-75%, both impairing daily function and quality of life.…
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Looking Ahead: RAMP’s Strategic Plan 2025-2027
We are pleased to share RAMP’s Strategic Plan for the next three years. We remain committed to targeting the inequities that lead to asthma disparities related to our goals of healthy and stable housing, healthy air, and healthcare equity for all. We’ll continue to utilize our core strategies in support of our goals. Select examples…
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RAMP’s Updated Asthma Action Plans
Central to the national Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma is the recommendation that clinicians develop a written asthma action plan in partnership with patient/family. RAMP has provided free Asthma Action Plans in multiple languages for over two decades. We work with our clinical partners to update the Asthma Action Plans periodically to…
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Webinar: Addressing Pests through Asthma Remediation
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the approved services under Asthma Remediation, part of Medi-Cal’s Community Supports program. As Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) staff or Asthma Remediation program managers, it’s essential to understand the benefits of IPM services and how IPM services can be incorporated into Asthma Remediation. In a one-hour virtual training, RAMP and UC IPM will provide an overview…
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Recording: Introduction to ASHRAE Guideline 44 – Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events
On February 25, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency hosted an Indoor Air Quality Science Webinar featuring Guideline 44, Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events, developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The authors of Guideline 44 provided an overview followed by a question-and-answer session…
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Study Suggests Linkage Between the Weekly Use of Disinfectants and Cleaning Products and Asthma
In December 2024, a study analyzed long-term exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products (DCPs) and identified five usage profiles among 1,143 German adults aged 19–34. Researchers found that only persistent weekly use of multiple DCPs over time was linked to a higher risk of asthma and wheezing. However, due to wide confidence intervals, uncertainty remains.…
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Preliminary Data Shows Increase in Emergency Department Use During the Los Angeles County Wildfires
In January 2025, the wildfires in Los Angeles County burned approximately 40,000 acres, destroyed approximately 16,000 structures, and killed at least 29 persons. The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report noted that emergency departments (EDs) experienced an eightfold increase in the average percentage of ED encounters classified as wildfire-associated. Near real-time surveillance of health outcomes…