Chickasaw Nation recognized by OHA for clinical
tobacco treatment
Posted on 8/23/24
OHA’s Foundation for a Healthy Oklahoma recently recognized the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health as a Tobacco Treatment Champion of Health for excellence in Outpatient Clinical Tobacco Treatment. This award is given annually by the OHA to partners who excel at providing patients with tobacco treatment support.
The Chickasaw Nation Department of Health rolled out their clinical tobacco treatment program in November of 2014. At that time, the Chickasaw Nation was the first tribal healthcare system in the nation to implement a bi-directional electronic referral to a state sponsored Quitline for clinical tobacco treatment. Only a handful of healthcare systems in the nation had achieved this novel approach to clinical tobacco treatment (CTT). The Chickasaw Nation was also the first healthcare system in Oklahoma to do so.
“The Chickasaw Nation Department of Health has been an excellent partner in bringing this project to life and equally fantastic in helping to promote clinical tobacco treatment as a best practice for clinical care. This project has not only benefited the patients of the Chickasaw Nation, but lessons learned from it have helped to pave the way for much greater success in addressing tobacco treatment in Oklahoma,” said Eric Finley, executive director, Foundation for a Healthy Oklahoma.
“Hospitals and clinics engage in this work because it is the right thing to do, but the life-saving efforts of this project must be noted and celebrated. The Chickasaw Nation outpatient clinics have made 4,000 referrals to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and the benefits of this project from a healthcare quality perspective are outstanding. Due to these efforts, it is estimated that nearly 2,000 years of life have been saved and $1 million in healthcare costs have been saved or avoided. This recognition is more than well-earned and deserved,” he said.
The Chickasaw Nation Department of Health was provided with a plaque celebrating this achievement at a ceremony on Aug. 2. The OHA will also be recognizing two additional partners in the future, a Clinical Tobacco Treatment Champion for inpatient CTT and one for most improved in 2024.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) supports health improvement initiatives (HII) at OHA’s Foundation for a Healthy Oklahoma. For more information about OHA’s HII, click here. For information on the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, click here. (Eric Finley)