Pneumonia Quality Measures
Smoking has been identified as the strongest risk factor
for pneumococcal pneumonia in healthy, non-elderly adults according to the New
England Journal of Medicine, (March 2000: 342 (10); 681-689). Being
admitted to the Hospital for a smoking-related illness can help to motivate
people who smoke to quit.
The Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in conjunction
with the Hospitals Quality Alliance (HQA) and the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), recommend smoking cessation
counseling for eligible persons with pneumonia.
The good news about the added health risk from smoking is
that it is reduced when the person who smokes decides to quit. Not smoking
helps the body to heal and improves overall health, but quitting can be difficult
due to the addictive qualities of nicotine, one of the drugs ingested during
smoking. Smokers, therefore, often require support and counseling. Helpful
tips on quitting smoking from the National Cancer Institute are available at Smokefree.gov.
St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center is a smoke free environment. All patients admitted receive smoking cessation information.