[brian]

(Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. – August 24, 2004) The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations today announced the implementation of an externally funded research study that will examine the counseling hospitals offer to patients to help them stop smoking.

A survey was sent this month to a random sample of 185 hospitals nationwide to assess the smoking cessation counseling provided to hospital patients admitted with diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia. The survey also seeks the perspective of institutional leaders on the effectiveness of smoking cessation efforts.

The deadline for returning the survey is Wednesday, September 8. Responses to the survey, and findings from the research study, will have no impact on the accreditation status of organizations participating in this project.

Findings from the study will be used to identify best practices and develop educational strategies that health care organizations can employ to improve current smoking cessation practices. The initiative is being funded by the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California, San Francisco, which is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

In addition to standards banning smoking at hospitals, the Joint Commission addresses the issue of smoking cessation as part of its standardized performance measurement requirements. Three of the core measure sets – acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia – contain measures related to whether smoking cessation advice or counseling has been provided during a hospital stay.

For more information about the project, visit: http://www.jcaho.org/news+room/news+...aho_082404.htm

[purplemania]

we started a no smoking policy April 1 for staff and visitors alike. No one can smoke anywhere on the property, unless they are in their own car. Not one person quit their job. The hospital offers smoking cessation classes, nicotine patches or gum as prescribed by your MD and other helps. We give goody bags to patients with gum or candy or finger toys (things that are allowed by MD). People are told they can go AMA or tough it out or wear a patch while here. Their choice. AMAZINGLY, most wear the patch. So I think the program is a success.

[silvermaple2rpn]

I work in 2 LTC facilities both of which are non-smoking. It is more and more becoming a reality that smokers are not welcome and can't even be admitted if they do smoke. Not only for health reasons, but also for the safety of all the residents should one accidentally burn there bed and room down.

It would be nice to have a support system for the staff who are trying to quit as well. But to date we have nothing set up in our workplace to assist staff in any way.

[oramar]

No doubt the Joint Commission will come up with another form for nursing to fill out. It is their solution for every problem.

[batmik]

We had a staff meeting today and our hospital is rolling out a whole new policy if we find out a patient is smoker. I am sure this is because of the JACHO thing. We just had our JACHo survey this past July.