October 13, 2009

The Joint Commission, which sets accreditation standards for all hospitals in the United States, made public four new measures related to tobacco use and dependence, and took public comments on them through September 30. If these measurements are adopted, The Joint Commission will require all hospitals to assess the tobacco use status of every patient aged 12-years and older, and to offer current tobacco users counseling, medications and limited follow-up.

This past month, the Joint Commission welcomed public comments on the proposed draft tobacco use measures. The results of the public comments will be used to develop detailed measure specifications and to determine which measures move forward for pilot testing. The public comment period came to a close on September 30, leaving those who are vested in the measurements to wait for the outcome.

The four new Tobacco Alcohol & Drug Dependence (TADD) candidate measures include:

• Tobacco Use Assessment:  The number of hospitalized inpatients 12-years of age and older who received an assessment of tobacco use status.
• Tobacco Use Treatment:  The number of hospitalized inpatients 12 years of age and older who received evidence-based counseling to quit and received (or declined) FDA approved cessation medications during the hospital stay.
• Tobacco Use Treatment at Discharge:  The number of hospitalized inpatients 12 years of age and older who were referred to evidence-based, out-patient counseling and received (or declined) a prescription for FDA approved prescribed cessation medications upon discharge.
• Tobacco Use Follow-up:  The number of discharged patients who defined their tobacco use status as either having made a quit attempt or are no longer using tobacco products at the time of the follow-up call.

Each rationale is supported by the morbidity and financial repercussions of smoking, drawing more attention to the reality that smoking is a priority concern in the United States. These requirements will change the protocol of hospital care, for the better, so keep your members and colleagues involved in the tobacco space to ensure that these measures are approved.

Partnership for Prevention and The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and their Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Department of Health and Human Services have supplied The Joint Commission with funds to develop these measures.

It is very important for everyone to stay attuned to the developments of these measurements. Spreading the news and sharing insights, particularly at the local level, about them will keep the measurements top of mind, and let the Joint Commission know the interest in adopting such standards.

Your Call to Action: Keep tabs on The Joint Commission’s Web site so you are aware of the latest developments regarding new measurements related to tobacco use and dependence, and the public’s recent comments.