1. Quitlines and Health Care Systems: Integrating services, achieving goals
Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H.
Director, CDC Office on Smoking and Health
Integrating Quitlines With Health Care System Policy and Goals
International Quitline Institute 2011 Conference
October 11, 2011
Seattle, Washington
The findings and conclusions in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily
represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health

2. A symbiotic relationship
Quitlines
Health care systems
Each can help the
other achieve the goal.
& 2

3. Quitlines help health care systems overcome barriers
1. Ask about tobacco use (including smoking and other forms of tobacco) and document in the chart.
2. Advise patients who use tobacco to quit. “Quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health.”
3. Assess readiness to quit. “Have you thought about quitting tobacco?”
4. Assist the patient in making a quit attempt by providing self-help materials, setting a quit date, discussing medications, and discussing quitting strategies.
5. Arrange for follow-up care. Check in with the patient on quitting progress and continue to provide support.
1. Ask about tobacco use (including smoking and other forms of tobacco) and document in the chart.
2. Advise patients who use tobacco to quit. “Quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health.”
3. Refer to trusted resources.
Ask
Ask
Advise
2As
and R
Brief Tobacco
Intervention
5As
Brief Tobacco
Intervention
Assess
Advise
Assist
Arrange
Refer 3

4. Providers and health care systems help Quitlines
Create demand.
Provide continuity of care.
Offer complementary services.
Build credibility. 4

5. Training increases referrals from health care systems
The services patients will receive.
Ways to conduct a brief intervention.
Ways to set up systems to support the Quitline as a cessation resource. 5

6. Integration =
Long-term
impact 6