Myocardial Infarction Quality Measures
Smoking cessation
Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease. National guidelines strongly recommend smoking counseling to help heart attack survivors to quit smoking (National Cancer Institute (NCI) Prevention and Cessation of Cigarette Smoking: Control of Tobacco Use). Tobacco Cessation Guidelines from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) provide helpful tips on smoking cessation for patients.
At St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, in 2006, 96 percent of eligible heart attack survivors received referrals for smoking cessation counseling prior to discharge.