Press Releases: 2005

Healthy Hoops Fall Challenge Brings Asthma Education to Delaware Valley

Innovative Basketball Program Educates Asthmatic Youth; Third Year Expands to Chester

Springfield, PA - Nearly 400 children will participate in the Healthy Hoops Fall Challenge on Sunday, October 23, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Healthplex® Sports Club, 194 W. Sproul Rd. in Springfield, next to Springfield Hospital. The Fall Challenge will wrap up the 2005 Healthy Hoops Program, an innovative community-based program that combines asthma education and basketball targeting children with asthma from Chester and Philadelphia. 

Because of the positive results and success of the first two Healthy Hoops programs, 2005 marked the expansion of the program to Chester, PA, where asthma rates among children are higher than average. A study led by Gerald Kolski, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Pediatrics at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and medical director of the Kids Asthma Management Program, found that more than 20 percent of Chester-Upland children were determined to have - or be at risk for - asthma. This rate is higher than the national average of 6 to 8 percent.  

“The very high incidence of asthma in the Chester area makes the Healthy Hoops program very important. The program has provided hundreds of children with screenings, information about asthma and tips for managing their condition more effectively,” Kolski says.

The program continues to follow the first two years’ participants from North and West Philadelphia reinforcing the importance of good nutrition, proper medication use and exercise in managing asthma to parents and children alike. New this year is Healthy Hoops, Jr. for younger asthmatic children (ages 3-6), allowing the program to reach even more children and families living with asthma. 

Keystone Mercy Health Plan and the Healthy Hoops Coalition, comprised of AstraZeneca, Crozer-Keystone Health System, ChesPenn Health Services, health care providers, asthma specialists and basketball coaches, developed Healthy Hoops to bridge the racial-disparity gap of children with asthma, the most common chronic disease among children, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. According to the 2002 Household Health Survey, 10 percent of children under the age of 18 in Southeast Pennsylvania have asthma, representing nearly 105,000 children in the region. 

The program was launched in 2003 with families from West Philadelphia and, due to the tremendous results, expanded in 2004 to include families from North Philadelphia. To date, over 900 local children with asthma, their parents and siblings have participated in the Healthy Hoops program.

The program’s results have been extremely positive. Results from children who started the program in 2003 and have participated for two years shows that after the 2004 Healthy Hoops program:

• 26 percent decrease in emergency room visits after the second year
• 10 percent increase in children using preventative medication therapies
• 13 percent decrease in rescue medication use

For additional information about the Healthy Hoops Program, please visit www.keystonemercy.com/community/healthyhoops. 

For more information and tips on managing pediatric asthma, go to www.breatheinfo.com.

About Keystone Mercy Health Plan
Keystone Mercy Health Plan, a healthcare ministry of the Sisters of Mercy in affiliation with Keystone First, Inc., is the largest Medical Assistance managed care organization in Pennsylvania, serving more than 301,000 Medical Assistance recipients.  Keystone Mercy's mission is to provide accessible, quality health care services to its members, with a special concern for the poor and disadvantaged.  For more information about Keystone Mercy Health Plan, please visit www.keystonemercy.com.

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of over $21.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, oncology and neuroscience products.  In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $9.6 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees.  AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.  For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com.

About Crozer-Keystone
Crozer-Keystone Health System is the largest employer and health care provider in Delaware County. The health system comprises five hospitals, a comprehensive physician network of primary-care and specialty practices, and the Healthplex® Sports Club. The health system provides a full spectrum of wellness, prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and restorative care to the community. For more information, contact 1-800-CK-HEALTH or visit www.crozer.org.

About the Healthplex® Sports Club
As the region's premier health club, the Healthplex® Sports Club offers state-of-the-art facilities for all of your fitness and wellness needs; an experienced staff; a range of special programs and leagues for people of all ages; and convenient personal services. Call 610-328-8888 or visit www.healthplex.net for more information.

About ChesPenn Health Services
ChesPenn Health Services is a federally funded health center that provides low-cost health care services to the people of Delaware County. Serving more than 12,000 patients each year, ChesPenn is committed to its mission of providing quality medical and dental services to members of the community. Crozer-Keystone Health System (CKHS) has provided oversight and technical assistance for ChesPenn Health Services since 1995. For more information, visit www.chespenn.org.