American Lung Association Partners with Maricopa County Medical Society to Address and Educate Communities on Health Impacts of Poor Air Quality

The American Lung Association is actively working to bolster the efforts of health care providers and health organizations in Maricopa County to improve health outcomes in patients living with lung disease during periods of poor air quality. The project focus kicks off in Maricopa County with Phoenix ranking among the most polluted cities in the U.S. for ozone and particulate pollution.

The Maricopa County Medical Society (MCMS) has a robust representation of over 11,000 medical professionals and will provide American Lung Association resources and programs to its board and physician members. Through this partnership, MCMS will provide awareness and education to healthcare providers, patients living with lung disease and promote policies to protect lung health.

“We are pleased to work side-by-side with the Maricopa County Medical Society on this important outreach in Arizona,” said Stacey Mortenson, Western Division Vice President of Health Promotions, American Lung Association. “Phoenix is ranked the 5th most polluted city in the country, and Maricopa County continues to struggle from the burdens of poor air quality.” Desire’e Hardge, CEO and Executive Director of the Maricopa County Medical Society noted, “As a physician-led organization, we understand the critical intersection of climate change, air quality, and public health. Partnering on this project underscores our commitment to addressing these urgent challenges while supporting patients living with lung disease. By uniting medical professionals, healthcare allies, policymakers, and the community, we can create meaningful solutions to safeguard public health and ensure a healthier future for all Arizonans.”

• For healthcare providers, MCMS will distribute tools and offer education to help improve provider and patient communication during poor air quality days. With health threats from poor air quality growing as climate change intensifies, physicians and other healthcare providers need such resources to help their patients.

• For people living with lung disease, MCMS will offer programming and resources designed to empower patients to take steps to reduce their risk of health complications during days with unhealthy air. MCMS will provide awareness of the American Lung Association Lung Health Navigator Program for people living with asthma and COPD.  This program includes education about protecting your lung health, ensuring patients have an asthma or COPD action plan in place and know when to seek medical care.

• For public awareness to promote policies that protect lung health, MCMS will distribute air sensors that allow residents to engage more closely in monitoring their air quality in target neighborhoods. The organization will also work with community members and health professionals to share that data with others to advocate for change.

The American Lung Association is looking for additional partners to further our awareness and educational efforts. Health care providers, community organizations, and individuals living with a lung disease can learn more about the initiative and how to get involved at Lung.org/az-climate