174. Systems Strategy 4. Promote hospital policies that support and provide inpatient tobacco dependence services
Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update
Action | Strategies for implementation |
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Provide tobacco dependence treatment to all tobacco users admitted to a hospital. | Implement a system to identify and document the tobacco use status of all hospitalized patients.
Identify a clinician(s) to deliver tobacco dependence inpatient consultation services for every hospital and reimburse them for delivering these services. Offer tobacco dependence treatment to all hospitalized patients who use tobacco. Expand hospital formularies to include FDA-approved tobacco dependence medications. Ensure compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC, formerly JCAHO) regulations mandating that all sections of the hospital be entirely smoke-free and that patients receive cessation treatments. Educate hospital staff that first-line medications may be used to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms, even if the patient is not intending to quit at this time. |