St. Charles Health System and Bend Memorial Clinic are together offering a new smoking cessation program to patients admitted to the hospital.
Patients who have reported smoking within the last year will be visited by a team of providers who will discuss withdrawal and nicotine replacement therapy to make them more comfortable during their stay.
But longer-term strategies for quitting are also discussed. Patients are provided with a self-directed smoking reduction plan as well as information on free local resources for education and support.
“Patients are already smoke free while they are here, so it’s capitalizing on that momentum,” said Amy Cavallaro, St. Charles’ clinical supervisor for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
During a visit with the smoking cessation team, patients will be assessed for:
· Readiness to quit
· Nicotine addiction
· Need for nicotine replacement therapy
If a patient does elect to receive pharmacotherapy such as Chantix or Wellbutrin, they will work with a St. Charles physician’s assistant or BMC nurse practitioner to determine the best course of treatment.
“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve your health,” Cavallaro said. “It makes sense to start that process in the hospital where you have access to a team of people who are available for guidance and support.”
Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.
The ACS estimates that in 2013, there will be 228,190 new cases of lung cancer and 159,480 deaths, accounting for about 27 percent of all cancer deaths.
Freshstart tobacco cessation classes also continue to be available to the community. The four-week American Cancer Society program is designed to help participants stop smoking or chewing by providing them with information and strategies. To register, visit Stcharleshealthcare.org and click on “Classes and Events.”
December 9, 2013
