Clinical Decision Support Resources

Resource Developed to Support Medication Choices for Children and Adults with Asthma 

Software developers, researchers, and electronic health record experts can now create clinical decision support tools based on current asthma guidelines

In December 2021, the NHLBI announced a new clinical decision support (CDS) resource for the 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines. The CDS features eight rules, developed by the NHLBI, members of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Coordinating Committee expert panel working group, and several partners. These rules provide a basis for clinical decision-making when treating asthma according to the Stepwise Approach for Management of Asthma.

CDS includes a variety of tools to enhance decision-making in the clinical workflow. The new rules, noted below, were developed for the asthma guideline recommendations that focus on medications, and for changes in the preferred treatment recommendation in Steps 2 – 5 of the Stepwise Approach For Management of Asthma in children (age 5 – 11 years) and adults (age 12+ years).

Electronic health record developers and software experts can use the freely available structured code to develop executable applications to test and use in clinical settings. Access the resources now from AHRQ’s CDS Connect Repository, and help put the asthma guidelines recommendations into clinical practice.

• Preferred therapy recommendation for adult asthmatic Step 1-to-2 transition
• Preferred therapy recommendation for adult Step 2 asthmatic before advancing
• Preferred therapy recommendation for asthmatic Step 2-to-3 transition
• Preferred therapy recommendation for Step 3 asthmatic before advancing
• Preferred therapy recommendation for asthmatic Step 3-to-4 transition
• Preferred therapy recommendation for adult Step 4 asthmatic before advancing
• Preferred therapy recommendation for child Step 4 asthmatic before advancing
• Preferred therapy recommendation for adult asthmatic Step 4 to 5 transition