Thursday, October 07, 2010
A Proven Success –Quit-Smoking Program for Hospitalized Patients in Champlain
October 7, 2010 - The Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation, a program delivered in 18 regional hospitals, has now expanded to primary care clinics, with more health centres scheduled to join soon.
People experiencing health conditions are often highly motivated to quit, but need adequate supports to overcome the addiction. Coordinated by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the program offers treatment and follow-up support to identified smokers. The evidence-based model has been so successful that it is being used in more than 70 hospitals across Canada.
The results show that patients have benefitted. During a three-year period (2007-2010), more than 12,000 hospitalized smokers in the Champlain region participated in the program, and 4,000 of them remained smoke-free six months after discharge.
The Champlain Network of Hospital Based Smoking Cessation Program is one of six priority initiatives launched as part of the Champlain Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Strategy. To underline its commitment to smoking cessation, the Champlain LHIN included a new target in its most recent accountability agreements with hospitals to increase the number of smokers receiving the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation.
As well, eight primary care clinics (five family health teams, a community health centre, and two family medicine centres) are now implementing the program in the Champlain region. Six more primary care clinics in the region are expected to start offering the program this year.
“Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disability in the Champlain region,” says MPP Phil McNeely. “I applaud participating hospitals and primary care centres for taking a lead role in creating healthier communities by supporting quit-smoking efforts of their patients.”
Source: Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Email: champlain@lhins.on.ca
Website: www.champlainlhin.on.ca
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