CANTON, Ohio (Nov. 17, 2016) – The Aultman Family Medicine Residency Program recently received a tobacco cessation mini-grant from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Grant funds in the amount of $10,000 will assist in implementing an innovative tobacco cessation program through 2017. Aultman’s project was selected by AAFP as one of only five in the country for 2016-2017 mini-grants.

The program will focus on clinical intervention and also target the at-risk patient population including behavioral health patients. The funds will be used for patient incentives, free nicotine patches, an ad campaign, mobile application development and further tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) training.

Tobacco cessation education will be provided to medical assistants, nurses and residents at Aultman. This education will be taught by a pharmacist from Pfizer and it will allow the health care providers to assist their patients in quitting smoking by employing both evidence-based intervention and cognitive behavioral therapy.

The initiative will offer a reward system for patients who attend the Give It Up! sessions and use technology through a mobile applications initiative called AultQuit. Patients can enroll using their smart phone. The app will send reminders to patients via text message and will also promote communication among peers and/or tobacco specialists.

Aultman has offered a successful tobacco cessation inpatient program since 2008. The Give It Up! program aims to increase the quit rate of the patient population by implementing the Joint Commission's recommended measures for inpatient tobacco treatment. The new program will collaborate with the Give It Up! program by adding stress management courses to assist patients in managing the barriers that prevent them from quitting.

The Aultman Family Medicine Residency Program is very excited to be a pilot for this innovative new tobacco cessation program. For more information about Aultman's Give It Up! tobacco cessation program, please call 330-363-QUIT or click here.