Thayer County Memorial Hospital: Smoking Cessation.

Smoking Cessation Counseling

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is closely watching how their health care dollars are spent. To do this CMS is requesting that hospitals submit data specific to CMS’s pre-defined quality indicators which show how well acute care hospitals are providing quality care to patients. One of the quality indicators is related to smoking cessation counseling. The Quality Indicator asks, “Are we providing Smoking Cessation Interventions to all those ACS and CHF patients who have smoked within the past 12 months?” Even though we are collecting and submitting data on ACS and CHF patients, doesn’t it make sense to expand the work we’re doing for this population of patients, to all patients who come in contact with us at TCHS?

Because we have spent a fair amount of time planning interventions for some patients who smoke, it is now proposed that we take this material and utilize it for all patients with whom we have contact, if those patients have used tobacco in the last twelve months. Recent data have shown that of patients who smoke, 70% would be interested in quitting. Of those, another 70% would do it with some information and guidance from their health care providers. Also reported was that a recent study of surveyed patients showed that only 0.4% of patients who had an encounter with the health care professional report they were provided with information to help them stop smoking.

Here is what we at TCHS have to offer ALL our patients. First, Malissa Sittler is a certified smoking cessation counselor. Malissa has agreed to be available to provide smoking cessation counseling to any patient requesting help. Second, Malissa has developed a brochure about some interesting facts related to smoking as well as why one should stop. These brochures are available throughout the entire health care campus, for: In-Patients, Out-patients, Surgicals, Clinics patients, etc. (To get these brochures to take to satellite clinics, or to display in your departments, please see HR.) Third, the hospital’s nursing assessment has been updated to reflect the additions of not only asking patients whether or not they smoke, but also provides the nurse with the opportunity to provide and document any interventions.

The State of Nebraska also has a website available which provides more information on this topic.

The next time you encounter someone who uses tobacco and expresses an interested in quitting or even cutting down, please offer them any of the above solutions.