That’s where Henry Ford Health’s Tobacco Treatment Service (TTS) comes in. The program began in 2001 with the goal of delivering effective, innovative tobacco treatment coaching. It has since expanded to serving patients from diverse backgrounds across Southeast Michigan and beyond to help them quit—for good.
“For a person who smokes, quitting is the number one thing they can do to improve their health and lower their risk of life-threatening chronic diseases,” says Amanda Holm, Project Manager of TTS. “Tobacco is still the single biggest cause of preventable death in the U.S., even as smoking rates have been declining for many years.”
Holm notes that quitting tobacco is difficult for many people because nicotine is highly addictive. It hijacks the brain’s reward system so that over time, a person who uses it can’t feel normal or at ease without it.
The Tobacco Treatment Service offers support for people who want to quit, through telephone-based coaching. Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists provide one-on-one coaching support for six months, including medication prescriptions and troubleshooting to give each person the best chance at successfully quitting. In 2020, TTS launched a special version of the program for younger patients ages 14-17. The program also offers virtual Freedom From Smoking classes, based on the American Lung Association’s model, for those who want group support from peers who are quitting at the same time.
“I signed up for the stop-smoking group…Went through for seven weeks, and it got easier and easier. Having the support from other people in the group helped me continue. I looked forward to phone calls for support and encouragement,” says patient Gayle B., who successfully quit smoking in 2020.
In most years, the program serves more than 250 patients, many of whom are referred by Henry Ford providers. The team recognizes that tobacco use is a chronic relapsing disorder, meaning that patients may need active management to quit for good.
“We know that clinicians don’t always have time to do the in-depth follow-up that supports patients in making this kind of long-term change. That’s where we come in,” says Holm.
The team’s support and empathetic coaching has led to quit rates of about 25%, comparable to similar programs across the nation. That means thanks to Holm and her team, about one in four patients who start the program are no longer smoking seven months after enrollment.
Today, Henry Ford employees and physicians can lend their support for this important program through gifts to the new Tobacco Treatment Service General Fund (#561). The fund serves both patients and providers by subsidizing tobacco treatment medications for patients who cannot afford them; offering continuing education to Henry Ford providers on how to assist patients in quitting most effectively; and supporting continuing education and professional development for its coaches.
“Whether physicians and employees contribute to our fund or not, we want you to know we are here for you and your patients, so please refer patients to us,” says Holm. “You can find us in Epic’s Meds & Orders – complete the Ambulatory Referral to Smoking Cessation and we’ll take it from there.”