AARC Endorses New Tobacco Cessation Guidelines

May 14, 2008

The AARC has officially endorsed a new set of guidelines from the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) aimed at helping health care professionals assist their patients in kicking the tobacco habit.

Developed by the UPS-sponsored Tobacco Use and Dependence Guideline Panel led by Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, the document, “Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update,” brings new information to the “Tobacco Use and Dependence: Clinical Practice Guideline” published in 2000.

AARC Executive Director Sam Giordano, MBA, RRT, FAARC, was on hand for the release of the update at the American Medical Association headquarters in Chicago, IL, on May 6. Giordano attended the event at the request of the Panel, which is working to distribute the guidelines to as many health care groups as possible and considers respiratory therapists a key audience.

The updated guidelines include 10 key recommendations that emphasize the importance of documenting and treating every tobacco user seen in every health care setting. The document also covers proven methods to help people quit tobacco and urges better insurance coverage for tobacco cessation treatments.

The AARC encourages members to review the new guidelines and put the information to use in the care and treatment of their respiratory patients who use tobacco.

Read the AARC endorsement letter. Read the Executive Summary of the updated guidelines.