Office Champions Tobacco Cessation Federally Qualified Health Centers Project

The AAFP is now recruiting 20 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) for the Office Champions Tobacco Cessation FQHC Project. This project will provide practical strategies through an online training module, live teleconferences and assorted materials for making system changes in medical practices to improve tobacco cessation activities.

Project Requirements

To be considered for the Office Champions Tobacco Cessation Federally Qualified Health Centers Project, you must agree with the following requirements:

• Your Office Champion will complete the Office Champions training program.
• Your Office Champion or physician champion will present an overview of the project to your practice's physicians and staff.
• Your practice will complete a pre- and post-project chart review of 20 patient charts.
• Your Office Champion will identify and implement system changes to better integrate tobacco cessation activities into your practice's daily office routines and to create a culture that promotes tobacco cessation. An implementation plan must be submitted to AAFP.
• Adequate time, resources and support will be allocated to your Office Champion to fulfill the responsibilities of his or her role.
• Your practice will participate in all phases of program evaluation, including an evaluation survey.
  

Recognition and Compensation

If your practice is selected to participate and completes the Office Champions Tobacco Cessation Federally Qualified Health Centers Project, your practice will receive $2,000 to cover administrative costs. Payments will be made based on the following milestones:

• $1,000 to be awarded following completion of the online training program, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course, teleconference, pre-project chart review, staff meeting, and submission of an implementation plan (approximately May 2013).
• $1,000 to be awarded following completion of all phases of the program, including an evaluation survey (approximately January 2014).

Once your practice completes the program, you'll be recognized for your exemplary efforts in addressing tobacco dependence through office system change. Your practice will receive recognition materials including:

• A recognition certificate that reads: "This practice is recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians for excellence in tobacco cessation assistance."
• A press release you can send to your local newspaper.
• A certificate for your Office Champion, indicating he or she has completed tobacco cessation training by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
• An article for your patient newsletter.
• Electronic "Tobacco Treatment Excellence" logos you can use on letterhead, business cards, advertisements, etc.
• Tips on holding a recognition ceremony for staff.
• Tips on publicizing your champion status.
• Posters for your office.
  

Additionally, your practice, and others who complete the project, will receive recognition on the AAFP website.

About the Use of Tobacco Products Among FQHC Patients

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(www.cdc.gov), adults who live in poverty are more likely to smoke than those who live above poverty level.
• According to the National Association of Community Health Centers(www.nachc.com), approximately 93 percent of FQHC patients live at or below poverty level.
• Studies(www.mphca.com) indicate that more than 40 percent of FQHC patients use tobacco.
• According to the Health Resources and Services Administration 2011 National Data(www.bphc.hrsa.gov), while an estimated 79.5 percent of Community Health Center (CHC) patients were queried about tobacco use at least once, only 52.7 percent of these patients received tobacco cessation advice or medication.

Questions?

For more information, contact AAFP Office Champions Federally Qualified Health Centers Project Manager Michele Raney at mraney@aafp.org or 800-274-2237 x 3140.