Frequently Asked Questions

Children and their families often have questions or concerns about the Mobile C.A.R.E. program. If you don't find the answer to your question in the list below, feel free to send e-mail to Mobile C.A.R.E. at asthma@mobilecarefoundation.org, or call the office at 773-247-9736 for more information.

Q: How Do I know when the Asthma Van will be here?

A: The Asthma Vans rotate through about 60 schools once a month to give continued follow-up care to children diagnosed with asthma. You may contact your school or call 773-247-9736 for our schedule.

Q: How can I make an appointment for my child to be seen on the van?

A: You can call 773-247-9736. If there is no answer please leave your name and number and the best time to call you.

Q: Do I have to be with my child during the visit?

A: Yes. As required for any pediatric appointment, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to each Mobile C.A.R.E. visit. We recommend that you go to your child's school 15 minutes early to check the child out of class. During the appointment, the Mobile C.A.R.E. staff will take plenty of time to educate the entire family and to evaluate the child's response to the asthma therapy.

Q: What if I have more than one child who has asthma and he or she does not go to this school?

A: We will be more than happy to consult with all of your children. If you have more than two children with asthma or potential for asthma, we would schedule two children at a time. In addition, we are here to serve the community so we would be happy to serve other students from other schools.

Q: What if I already have a doctor who treats my child's asthma well?

A: That's wonderful. First and foremost, we are NOT a substitute for your primary care physician. Our main focus is only on your child's asthma. We don't provide physicals or immunizations. We routinely encourage and provide you with documentation to communicate with your primary doctor about how we evaluated your child's' asthma.

Q: Do you use experimental medications for asthma on the van?

A: NO. All asthma medications given are FDA approved and are currently available in pharmacies.

Q: Are all the services FREE?

A: Medical consultations, education, materials, and medicines are all provided to the child at no charge. The family will NEVER receive a bill from us. We are approved to bill Medicaid and other insurances, so we do ask to make a copy of the child's insurance card.

Q: How old should my child be to be seen on the van?

A: We can see children from 6 months to 18 years old.

Q: Who staffs the Asthma Van?

A: The clinic is staffed by highly trained pediatricians, nurses and clinical assistants focused in the education and management of asthma in children.

Q: Is this a one-time deal?

A: NO. We follow-up on all of the children we see and will let you know the next time we would like to follow-up with your child.

Q: Do you have any services like this for adults?

A: We currently do not offer this service to adults. We would gladly refer you to different programs other organizations may have.

Q: Are services confidential?

A: Yes. If your child has a Medicaid or other insurance card, the staff will copy it. But remember, the family is never billed and all services are confidential.

“I just wanted to take a few minutes of your time to tell you how grateful I am for the treatment regimen you placed [my daughter] on. She is doing great! We have had an excellent summer; she attended summer camp and even participated in her ballet dance recital without any problems. Even with the weather going from hot to extreme hot and back again, she didn't have any exacerbations and her loud breathing is gone...”