15-Year Hospital Partnership Helping Local Patients Quit Smoking
2023-01-16
This National
Non-Smoking Week, Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH) is celebrating 15 years of
partnership with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s Ottawa Model for
Smoking Cessation (OMSC).
In 2002,
smoking cessation experts at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI)
developed the OMSC – an institutional program that systematically identifies,
provides treatment, and offers follow-up to patients who smoke as part of
routine care. In 2006, the UOHI began to assist other inpatient, outpatient,
and primary care settings to implement the OMSC.
Since the
implementation of the OMSC at CCH in February of 2008, an impressive 12,000
smokers have been reached through personalized consultations and received best
practice tobacco dependence treatment including nicotine replacement therapy.
Today, an estimated 4,500 local patients are smoke-free as a result of the
support they received through the OMSC while at CCH.
“Smoking
continues to be a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in
Canada; and countless health problems caused by smoking commonly lead to
hospitalization, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, and
many forms of cancer. However, quitting smoking, no matter your age, is
associated with significantly lower rates of re-hospitalization and death,”
explains Dr. Anastasios Boubalos, Chief of Staff at Cornwall Hospital. “We are
proud to be advancing our collaborative partnership with the UOHI to offer effective
smoking cessation supports for our patients addicted to smoking, increasing
their chances of recovery and long-term health.”
“It’s
gratifying to note the leadership being provided by the Cornwall Community
Hospital in addressing smoking, the leading cause of preventable disease and
death, by employing the Ottawa Model,” said Dr. Andrew Pipe, co-developer of
the OMSC and Canada’s foremost expert on smoking cessation. “The hospital has
been providing such distinct leadership for 15 years and serves as an example
to hospitals in Ontario and beyond as to how to deliver outstanding preventive
care. We’re particularly proud to have been a partner with the hospital
for those 15 years and to learn from their experience.”
The OMSC is
also available as a community program for local residents who are not in hospital, enrolled with a healthcare provider
or who cannot easily access smoking cessation treatment and support. The
program includes a telephone consultation, enrollment in a nicotine replacement
therapy voucher program, 6 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy in the mail
and a 6-month follow-up. To access the program,
call 1-888-645-5405 and leave your contact information on the
voicemail.
Residents
suffering from any substance use addiction can access treatment through
Cornwall Hospital’s Community Addiction and Mental Health Services by visiting www.AccessMHA.ca.
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