Clinical Blog
Published: April 07, 2015

Propeller Health to Build First Ever National Asthma Risk Map for U.S.

Today we are pleased to announce we will build the first-ever national Asthma Risk Map for the United States, where citizens can track how climate change affects the frequency and severity of asthma attacks and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To accomplish this, Propeller plans to expand its current municipal public health asthma initiatives to five cities around the US in the next two years as part of President Obama’s Climate Data Initiative.

Propeller will collect in near real-time inhaler usage across the US.  By pinpointing the time and location of rescue inhaler usage, Propeller will be able notify the community and nation of potential asthma risk hot spots, or The Asthma Risk map. This map is the first piece of the puzzle in helping us provide in-depth models on the impact climate change will have on public health. In addition to this, our big data analytics will collect an additional 40 data points, such as weather conditions, wind direction, air pollution, pollen counts, land use and traffic patterns at the time and location an inhaler is used.

The first of such cross-sectoral programs, AIR Louisville – a partnership with the Institute for Healthy Air Water and Soil, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – is already using Propeller’s FDA-cleared sensors to collect these necessary data. As we expand to more cities the additional data will help build richer model sets.

inhaler

Using predictive spatial modeling techniques, and open government data resources from ClimateData.gov, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration global climate models, Propeller will identify areas in US cities where the impacts of climate change will be felt most acutely by people with chronic respiratory disease over the next 10 to 100 years and beyond.

These models will consider modifiable predictors such as air pollution and transportation in addition to climate conditions to help local municipalities plan collaboratively for the impacts of climate change on health and to identify the most promising interventions that could be implemented now to reduce this burden. This initiative will also raise public awareness and help to build resilient communities that can withstand the impacts of climate change now and into the future.

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Reducing Clinician Burnout: The Power of Using Digital Tools Effectively

It's no secret that health systems are feeling strained, with 47% of physicians experiencing symptoms of clinician burnout.1 An overwhelming amount of clinical data, jam-packed days with little time to connect with patients, and a lengthy list of responsibilities are leaving healthcare professionals feeling drained.

Clinician exhaustion can lead to reduced job satisfaction, increased turnover, and a decrease in the quality of care provided to patients. But burnout isn’t only harmful to teams — it can also cause financial strain on health systems. According to a study by the Annals of Internal Medicine, clinician exhaustion accumulates approximately $4.6 billion in costs due to turnover and reduced clinic hours.2

But when health systems use digital tools the right way, they can reduce the risk of clinician burnout and increase patient care coordination.

From 2010 to Today: Happy Birthday, Propeller!

Today marks an incredible milestone: Propeller Health's 13th birthday. What began as a quest to solve a public health problem has turned into a global precision digital health company driving meaningful, measurable change in the industry. 

Recognizing early on that creating value for all parties in health – health systems, clinicians, payers, and pharmaceutical companies – is essential in order to drive sustainable change, we’ve spent the past 13 years pioneering innovative solutions that always keep the patient at the center. Our story is one of hard work, dedication, collaboration, and above all, a mission to uplift every person living with a chronic disease so they can breathe easier, stay healthier, and live better lives. 

Propeller was founded on the heels of a then-mysterious string of asthma attacks in Barcelona in the 1980s. It took 8 years for experts to identify soybean dust – not yet recognized as an allergen – as the trigger. One CDC disease detective envisioned a better way to monitor public health: by using technology to track medication usage and symptoms. With this mission, Propeller was born. 

Coming to AAAAI 2023: Propeller’s latest asthma research

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) has accepted five abstracts examining the latest data from Propeller Health and ResMed.

Our findings on asthma care, which include analyzing the direct and indirect cost-savings associated with a digital intervention in uncontrolled asthma, will be presented at the AAAAI Annual Meeting on February 24-27. Read brief summaries of each abstract below or click the links to view them online.

Direct and indirect cost-savings associated with a digital intervention in uncontrolled asthma: A literature-based estimate