Louisville Taps Sensor Data to Tackle Asthma Citywide

A public-private partnership in Louisville, Ky., has launched AIR Louisville, a data-driven collaboration among public, private, and philanthropic organizations to use digital health technology to improve asthma.

Leveraging Propeller Health's FDA-approved medication inhaler sensors, the program will track when, where, and how often residents of Louisville experience asthma symptoms. Project organizers say the data will help patients to better manage their asthma symptoms, and aid city leaders in making smarter decisions about how to keep the air clean.

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"The goal of the AIR Louisville program is to use data from Propeller's connected medication sensors to make smarter choices about how we improve the quality of life for our residents," said Ted Smith, chief of civic innovation at Louisville Metro Government and executive director of the Institute for Healthy Air Water and Soil. "By collecting data about where and when residents have asthma attacks, we can help inform public policy that will reduce the burden of asthma citywide. The program will also help physicians, patients, and employers understand asthma triggers and do a better job managing this health problem in our city."

With a $756,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and with participation from local employers, health plans and clinics, AIR Louisville will provide more than 2,000 sensors to Jefferson County residents who will then collect data over the two-year program. Data collected will be used to help patients self-manage their disease, to help providers manage asthma more efficiently in the community, and to help the City of Louisville learn patterns of asthma burden correlated to environmental factors.