Windham Hospital is Sole Recipient of Connecticut Grant
2-Year Grant Funds Counseling Service to Help Smokers Quit
WILLIMANTIC, CT, December 3, 2010– Windham Hospital was the only grantee in the state awarded funding to provide tobacco cessation counseling services to patients and families who visit the Emergency Department. The two-year grant from the Department of Public Health in the amount of $162,924 will provide staff training, screening and counseling to patients, their family members and visitors. During the process, tobacco users will be encouraged to stop smoking and referrals will be made to the CT Quitline. A Smoking Cessation Task Force will be formed to develop recommendations and plans for improvements in the process, as well as additional strategies to motivate tobacco users to quit.
The program is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2011 once training of Emergency Department staff and physicians can be completed and procedures and protocols are finalized. Materials will be developed in both English and Spanish and delivered in a culturally sensitive manner.
“The State of Connecticut is dedicated to helping the residents of our state in their efforts to quit smoking,” said Governor M. Jodi Rell. “There are both economic and health consequences of tobacco use—in Connecticut alone, more than 4,900 people die each year as a result of smoking-related diseases. The single-most important step to better health is to remain tobacco-free, and we are very pleased to fund Windham Hospital in this community initiative.”
“This is just one of the many community benefit programs that Windham Hospital provides to our region, “said Hospital President and CEO, Dick Brvenik. “ These types of intervention activities are necessary if we are to encourage people to lead tobacco free lifestyles, which will lead to more positive health outcomes. Both Windham Hospital and Hartford Healthcare are committed to elevating the healthcare status of all residents in the communities we serve.”
Windham Hospital is an acute care hospital that provides affordable and accessible inpatient, ambulatory, emergency, non-emergent, and rehabilitation services for thousands of patients from 19 Eastern Connecticut towns. The Hospital is a partner in Hartford Healthcare, Connecticut’s premier integrated health care system. Additional information may be obtained on the Hospital’s website at www.windhamhospital.org.
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