The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71549

Michael Burke, EdD¹, Mia Hanos Zimmermann, MPH², and Jonathan Foulds, PhD¹. (1) Tobacco Dependence Program, UMDNJ School of Public Health, 317 George St. Suite 210, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, 732 235-8225, michael.burke@umdnj.edu, (2) Tobacco Dependence Program, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Public Health, 317 George Street, Suite 210, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

The New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services Clinics as part of the New Jersey Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program has provided seed funding to a 13 health care organizations to develop 15 Tobacco Dependence Treatment. The institutional settings selected for N.J. Quitcenters include two University settings, 11 hospital settings, a community health center, and a stand-alone addiction treatment program and the hospital settings can be subdivided into 6 behavioral health departments, 4 community health outreach departments, and an oncology department. Patients presenting for treatment are highly dependent with over 60% smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day and smoking within the first 10 minutes of waking. Average age is 45 and more females than males present for treatment. The integration of tobacco dependence treatment into the health care system is an important public health issue. Coordination of staff training, consistent treatment provision, quality treatment, marketing, billing issues, and data collection across different institutional systems are challenges being negotiated by the New Jersey Quitcenters. These will be reviewed in this presentation

Learning Objectives:

At the end of session participants will be able to
• Identify four key issues in the development of specialized tobacco treatment centers.
• Discuss methods for training and supporting staff in providing treatment for tobacco dependence.
• Articulate current issues in billing, insurance reimbursement, and patient recruitment in regards to tobacco dependence treatment.

Keywords: Tobacco, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.