Asthma Exacerbation

Clinical Pathways promote evidence based, safe, and high-value care for patients by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members.

Clinical Pathways: 

• Asthma Exacerbation: Asthma Care Continuum Algorithm
• Asthma Exacerbation: Ambulatory Algorithm 
• Asthma Exacerbation: Urgent Care Algorithm
• Asthma Exacerbation: Emergency Department Algorithm
• Asthma Exacerbation: Inpatient Algorithm
• Asthma Exacerbation Clinical Practice Guidelines Synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion:  

• Patients experiencing asthma exacerbations.
• Sign and symptoms: acute onset of wheezing, coughing, and/or breathlessness with known or suspected asthma.

Exclusion:  

• Patients less than two years of age.
• Patients with other chronic pulmonary conditions aside from asthma.
• Long-term care of asthma without current exacerbation.

Asthma Exacerbation Clinical Pathway Committee Members and Representation: 

• Jade Tam-Williams, MD | Pulmonology | Committee Chair  
• Madison Buchanan, BHS, RRT-NPS | Respiratory Care | Committee Member  
• Marc Sycip, MD | Emergency Medicine | Committee Member 
• Matthew Johnson, MD | Hospital Medicine | Committee Member  
• Nathan Carman, BA RRT-NPS | Respiratory Care | Committee Member  
• Claire Seguin, MD | Hospital Medicine Fellow | Committee Member  
• Erin Scott, DO | Emergency Medicine | Committee Member  
• Aarti Pandya, MD | Allergy & Immunology | Committee Member 
• Amanda Nedved, MD | Urgent Care | Committee Member  
• Helen Murphy, MHS, HCEd, RRT, AE-C | Respiratory Care | Committee Member  
• Caroline Holton, MD | Critical Care Fellow | Committee Member  

Publication dates: 

• Finalized date: 7/2022 
• Next expected revision date:  7/2025

If you have any question regarding this content, or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu. 

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.