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Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Program - Health Care Professionals. Effective September 1, 2. Ontario Drug Benefit recipients. The Ontario Government supports the role of the pharmacist as part of an integrated team that provides an enhanced level of care to their patients. The Smoke Free Ontario Strategy also recognizes pharmacists as a valuable support for Ontarians who want to quit smoking. Effective September 1, 2.
Ontario Government for their expertise in providing a smoking cessation program to Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) recipients. Ontarians visit their community pharmacist for prescription dispensing services as well as clinical advice on their medications including over- the- counter drugs and herbal therapies through the Meds. Check program. The convenience of the local pharmacy and access to a health professional like the community pharmacist, are vital components in a quit smoking program.
The community pharmacist is familiar with the drug therapy needs of their patients and they are key advisors to the public on all areas of wellness. Pharmacists will be available to support patients who want to quit smoking by adding to the choice of options for counselling, by providing quit smoking materials and by improving access to smoking cessation services for those with chronic diseases. A smoking cessation program will see the community pharmacist providing a one to one support service and advice to ODB recipients who want to give up smoking. The program includes a readiness assessment where a patient may enrol in the smoking cessation program with the pharmacy as well as a first consultation and a number of follow- up counselling sessions over a one- year period.
The pharmacist will help to facilitate access to and where appropriate supply, appropriate stop smoking drugs and aids. For example, if a patient could benefit from prescription therapy to stop smoking, a pharmacist should engage the patient’s primary prescriber to determine if a prescribed therapy is appropriate. The objectives of the Pharmacy Smoking Cessation program include: To align with the principles of other smoking cessation programs in primary health care and community settings to provide smokers with a continuum of care. To communicate to the public regarding the value of smoking cessation services by community pharmacists and promotion of availability of services To improve access to and choice of stop smoking services, including advice on smoking cessation therapy and options, support tools, resources and follow- up.
Ontario, Canada, L6M 3L1. If you are thinking of quitting smoking, keep in mind that quitting takes practice and. On the Road to Quitting Guides to Becoming a. Refer back to this booklet whenever you have a question or need support to help in the process of quitting smoking. Smoking Cessation Interventions or Youthf. Ontario Tobacco Research Unit Smoking Cessation.
Care Programs & Services. Overcoming barriers to smoking cessation in. If you have an Ontario Drug Benefit card. Quitting is hard but you can help your patient make it happen.
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To provide patients with a consistent, evidence- based standard of care based on a screening mechanism, cessation counselling, structured documentation and support. While the smoking cessation program is available for reimbursement to Ontario Drug Benefit (OBD) recipients who smoke, future consideration may be given to expanding program eligibility to non- ODB patients based on the experiences and outcomes of the program. A patient who smokes may self- identify his / her interest in the smoking cessation program. However, as pharmacists are in dialogue with their patients and caregivers daily for Meds. Check appointments, for front- shop questions and in fulfilling their dispensing services, there are many opportune times to talk about smoking cessation. While pharmacists already provide advice to their patients on the risks of smoking during these interactions, the opportunity may also arise when patients are indeed ready to quit smoking and decide to enrol in the smoking cessation program. Using the 5. As algorithm.
Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) the pharmacist will guide the patient through a smoking cessation program (Refer to Appendix A) As with all professional pharmacy services, pharmacists will provide the smoking cessation service in an area of the pharmacy that provides a sufficient level of privacy and safety for the patient. All meetings with the patient must be documented to ensure program continuity. Follow- up meetings may be in person, telephone, electronic messaging or other agreed upon method of communication. Standardized template forms are provided as minimum standards of care to assist pharmacists with the mandatory documentation at each patient point of contact. While pharmacists may develop their own forms, the standardized template forms from the ministry must be adapted to maintain consistency of the program protocol. While one pharmacist may be the initial contact with the patient, any pharmacist at the designated pharmacy who has the appropriate training may meet with the patient over the course of the program. It is important however, that there is a trusting relationship between the patient and the pharmacist(s) for the duration of the program.
The pharmacist provides information that fosters program awareness for the patient and asks of their willingness to quit smoking. Generally, this is an in- person interaction and may result from the Meds. Check appointment, a patient enquiry about over- the- counter nicotine replacement therapy or as a result of another process whereby the opportunity to discuss the patient’s desire to quit in the next month occurs. The Readiness Assessment includes a questionnaire to determine the level (rating) of the desire to quit smoking. A patient may not be ready to quit and may require more time to reflect before finally deciding to enroll. When the patient agrees to move forward and work with the pharmacist, the initial consultation will be arranged.
A pharmacist and the patient may engage in a quit smoking discussion many times before a patient agrees to enrol and indicates a willingness to set a quit date. The readiness assessment process requires the pharmacist to document the patient's name, contact information and date of the discussion in which the patient agrees to enrolling in the program.
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Documentation should also outline the questions asked, the level of desire to quit smoking and the pharmacist’s name. Patients may request a copy of this record. Patients also provide consent for sharing the readiness assessment or first consultation summary or other documentation within the circle of care. First Consultation Meeting: The outcome of the first consultation is to engage the patient in a dialogue about their smoking history, and to ensure the patient understands the goals and objectives of the program including their responsibilities towards success. The first consultation occurs after the pharmacist has conducted the readiness assessment, obtained patient consent for program enrolment and sharing of health information.
The pharmacist meets with the patient for the first consultation to discuss tobacco use and medication history, health risks, triggers / strategies; a quit date and consideration of pharmacotherapy. Patient enrolment and consent forms should be signed prior to the first consultation meeting. It is recommended that an in- person appointment be scheduled for the first consultation to ensure adequate time to discuss history and pharmacotherapy options. Patients should be provided with supporting printed education material relating to the benefits of quitting smoking and/or information pertaining to internet resources, peer groups and contact information such as the Smokers Help Line, other health care professionals, and programs to reinforce their quit smoking goals. The first consultation includes the development of a plan or an agreement on the chosen treatment pathway, ensuring that the patient understands the ongoing support and monitoring arrangements.
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Patients will use a quit smoking plan which the pharmacist is required to provide. It is a personal plan for preparing to quit smoking and what to expect regarding their process. Other quit smoking management tools including brochures, referral information to support groups and other tools and/or strategies to promote positive results should also be provided. The first consultation also includes the appropriate advice and documentation that it may be necessary for the pharmacist to discuss and share the patient's health information with other health care professionals (physicians, nurses) in the process of assisting with the quit smoking program.
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While patients have signed consent forms, best practice is that they be informed should the pharmacist provide a copy of the readiness assessment and/or first consultation or follow- up session(s) information to the physician or other health care professionals. Follow- up counselling sessions for the purpose of patient progress, evaluation and monitoring smoking status, addressing any concerns or issues and providing support are outlined and tentatively scheduled at the time of the first consultation. A billing code through the ODB Health Network System is used by the pharmacist to claim reimbursement after the first consultation. Claim for reimbursement is processed once documentation of the meeting is complete and patient has signed the appropriate agreements. PIN 9. 38. 99. 94.
Follow- Up Counselling Sessions. The outcomes of the follow- up counseling sessions are to provide ongoing support for the patient by getting an update on their smoking status, addressing any concerns or issues that have arisen and to reinforce positive behaviours that the patient has used to remain smoke- free. As noted, follow- up counselling sessions may occur in person, by telephone or other means of communication as agreed to by the patient. The location and method of communication must be included in the documentation. All follow- up counselling sessions must be documented to ensure continuity of the program, evaluation and for the purpose of ministry auditing. There are a total of seven follow- up counseling sessions that are billable by the pharmacist through the ministry’s Health Network System.