Change Ideas

1. Focus on data discipline to support primary care providers to screen populations
   • Implement EMR reminders to prompt primary care providers to ask eligible patients about their tobacco use
   • Implement an evidence-informed tobacco use cessation flow sheet for standardized, consistent assessment and documentation in EMR (electronic medical record)
     • Easy-to-use
   • EMR use for capturing patients who refuse screening, management and/or monitoring
2. Decision support aids for patients
   • Implement the provision of website links, online, and paper-based information tools to support self-management and increase awareness of tobacco use risks and/or cessation, e.g. patient resources from the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation (OMSC), Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH), Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Lung Association, Smokers’ Help Line, etc.
   • Implement the provision of website links, online and paper-based information tools to support self-management related to behavioural modification such as access to group therapy and/or virtual counselling
3. Decision support aids for health care providers
   • HCP and staff training/education
   • Implement a tobacco use cessation medical directive (e.g., Vascular Health Medical Directives when available) to enhance capacity for interprofessional team collaboration in care delivery

Vascular Health Primary Care Work Group
Last Updated: November 13, 2017