Clinical Measures:
Helping Tobacco Users Quit
What are we measuring and why?
Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. We know that if we help patients quit, we help extend healthier lives. Partners HealthCare hospitals measure the percentage of hospitalized patients who have congestive heart failure, pneumonia, or a heart attack who get advice about quitting smoking.
How are we doing and how do we compare to regional* and national best practices?
Research shows that patients in the hospital are quite open to messages from caregivers about quitting smoking. Across our hospitals, we give quitting advice to 99% of patients with heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia who smoke.
What are we doing to improve?
We continue to add new tactics to make sure that patients who smoke are given advice to quit. For instance, hospitals have obtained funding for additional tobacco treatment counselors. We are also piloting new technologies to help with follow-up phone calls to help patients "stay quit." Our multi-disciplinary Tobacco Treatment Taskforce works across all Partners HealthCare hospitals. Taskforce members share best practices, educate clinicians about tobacco cessation efforts, and offer materials for both in- and outpatient venues.
* The composite measure is benchmarked against a Massachusetts state average, not a national average.
Charts for Helping Tobacco Users Quit
- Current Scores
- Scores Over Time
- Current Scores
- Scores Over Time
Percent of Patients Receiving Tobacco Cessation Advice Before Discharge
Partners HealthCare Data Period: April - June 2011
Partners HealthCare Source: Partners HealthCare High Performance Medicine
Reference Point Source: The Joint Commission State 50th Percentile
Percent of Patients Receiving Tobacco Cessation Advice Before Discharge
Partners HealthCare Source: Partners HealthCare High Performance Medicine
Reference Point Source: The Joint Commission State 50th Percentile
Percent of Patients Receiving Tobacco Cessation Advice Before Discharge
Partners HealthCare Data Period: April - June 2011
Partners HealthCare Source: Partners HealthCare High Performance Medicine
Reference Point Source: The Joint Commission State 50th Percentile
Percent of Patients Receiving Tobacco Cessation Advice Before Discharge
Partners HealthCare Source: Partners HealthCare High Performance Medicine
Reference Point Source: The Joint Commission State 50th Percentile