Providing compassionate care to our patients is a guiding principle at OHSU. As part of OHSU’s commitment to providing compassionate and quality health care, hospitalized patients are screened and treated for tobacco dependence. OHSU also provides assistance to patient families and visitors who smoke by offering nicotine lozenges at no cost to help manage cravings while on campus.
Hospital Patients:
Hospital patients are asked about their tobacco use at the time of admission. Patients who are currently smoking are offered medications to help manage cravings during their hospital stay and, for those interested in quitting, a consult with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist can be ordered by physicians and nurses to help set up a treatment plan following discharge. The consult includes an assessment of the patient’s tobacco use history and current circumstances and makes recommendations, including referrals, for treatment. The smoking cessation medications and the Tobacco Cessation Consult order are included in the EPIC orders manager. The consult is completed within 48 hours and a consult note is written in the patient’s chart. A follow-up call is made to all patients who agree to be contacted.
The Joint Commission requires that patients who are currently smoking or have smoked in the last year receive smoking cessation education. New tools are now available to help nurses complete the smoking cessation education:
Ambulatory patients:
Ambulatory patients are asked about their tobacco use at clinic visits. For patients interested in quitting, a tobacco use history is included in the review of systems and patients are offered treatment and referrals (or appointments) for tobacco cessation services.
All patients:
All patients can be referred to the Oregon Tobacco Quitline for more assistance. A fax referral program is also available to help link patients with the Quitline and provide feedback to the referring provider.
For more information, contact the Smoking Cessation Center at (503) 494-0891.
OHSU medical practices and hospital units may order the brochure "Is it time to quit smoking?" through the Logistics online catalog (Item no. 143481). This brochure is part of the Core Publications Program, and is available to clinical units at no cost.
For more information for health care professionals, visit the OHSU Smoking Cessation Center site at www.ohsu.edu/smokingcessation.
How to Initiate Tobacco Dependence Orders:
If patient has smoked/used tobacco within 90 days:
- Complete Tobacco Dependence Inpatient Orders (Form # PO-7290)
- Order nicotine patches and lozenges for immediate relief of nicotine withdrawal (unless medically contraindicated or no longer necessary).
- Order consultation with Tobacco Treatment Specialist Nurse Practitioner via Tobacco Dependence Orders (call 6-0027).
- NP will complete “Tobacco Treatment Specialist Recommendations for Inpatient Treatment and Discharge Care” progress note (Form # HP-5336) and notify medical team of specific recommendations.
- Medical team will be responsible for implementing treatment recommendations by revising inpatient orders AND including these medications in the discharge orders.
- Include smoking cessation discharge plan in the dictated discharge summary to ensure appropriate follow-up post-discharge. Make sure a copy of discharge summary is sent to patient’s primary care provider.
For information about tobacco dependence treatment, training/CME and other resources and references, visit the OHSU Smoking Cessation Center site.
Outpatients:
Outpatients are asked about their tobacco use at clinic visits by the medical assistant. Patients interested in quitting in the next 30 days are offered treatment at their clinic visit or referred for treatment to the OHSU outpatient pharmacy or Oregon Tobacco Quitline. Patients who are also OHSU employees can be referred to Employee Wellness for follow-up through the CARE program.
OHSU medical practices and hospital units may order the brochure "Is it time to quit smoking?" through the Logistics online catalog (Item no. 143481). This brochure is part of the Core Publications Program, and is available to clinical units at no cost.
