A Breath of Fresh Air

The VHAN Pharmacy Team helped a young patient with asthma gain access to critical inhaler therapy.

The VHAN Pharmacy team was asked to help treat a 3-year-old suffering from severely uncontrolled asthma that triggered multiple hospitalizations. The PCP prescribed the patient an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) inhaler, but the insurance company would only approve a hard-to-find ICS inhaler that was no longer being manufactured. The alternative treatment options were doses approved only for children aged 5 and above or dry powder/breath-activated inhalers, which would have been difficult for the child, who is also on the autism spectrum, to use.

VHAN pharmacist technician Becka Jaroszewicz scoured numerous pharmacies and suppliers to find the insurance-approved inhaler for the patient. When that search was exhausted, Becka swiftly obtained approval for the patient to receive help from a local medication assistance program, which facilitated the filling of the appropriate inhaler.

“Becka’s tireless commitment ensured that the patient and family received the care they so desperately needed, and she did so with an urgency and thoroughness that was remarkable,” said VHAN Clinical Pharmacist Chris Terry, PharmD, CDCES. “Her actions have profoundly impacted this child’s health and well-being, offering hope and stability where there was once uncertainty.”