Ready to Quit? Kingston Family Health Center Receives National Recognition for Tobacco Cessation Project

Kingston, NY (June 27, 2011) ― The Institute for Family Health’s Kingston Family Health Center has been recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) for successfully completing a Tobacco Cessation Office Champions pilot project. During the year-long project, the practice implemented a series of changes to integrate tobacco cessation activities into daily office routines and create a culture that encourages patients to quit smoking.

The AAFP’s pilot project trained “Office Champions” to lead improvements in clinical and operational systems. Seth Camhi, MD, MBA, a first year resident in family medicine at the Institute’s Mid-Hudson Family Practice Residency, took on the role of Office Champion for the Institute’s Kingston Family Health Center and made a series of changes to ensure that patients who use tobacco are offered the opportunity and resources they need to quit.

“The changes made by the Institute’s Kingston Family Health Center during this project could impact their patients for years to come,” said Tom Houston, M.D., Chair of the AAFP’s Tobacco Cessation Advisory Committee.

The U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline calls on clinicians to change the culture and practice patterns in their offices to ensure that every patient who uses tobacco is identified, advised to quit, and offered evidence-based treatments. The Institute’s Kingston Family Health Center was one of only 50 family medicine practices across the United States selected to participate in the Office Champions pilot project. The results of the project, which is supported by a grant from Pfizer Inc., will be disseminated to family medicine practices nationwide.

Want to quit?

Getting help can increase your chance of successfully quitting. Call The Institute for Family Health’s Kingston Family Health Center at (845) 338-6400 to schedule an appointment.