Since cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of
premature death and a contributor to heart disease, stroke, cancer,
low birth weight babies, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
helping patients be tobacco free is vitally important.

To assist Community Health Center staff in implementing successful
cessation activities, the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA)
through sponsorship by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services provided a tobacco cessation training on August 22. Over
30 nurses, health educators, social workers, medical assistants, clinical operations staff, and others with tobacco cessation responsibilities attended the day-long training.

“This free training focused on the impact of tobacco use and offered
proven strategies to assist patients in successful cessation,” said Lynda Meade, MPA, Program Specialist, MPCA.

A panel of six faculty, including National Cancer Institute trained health educators, shared their knowledge as well as tools and resources needed for quality tobacco cessation activities specifically for Community Health Centers.

For information about future tobacco cessation trainings hosted by
MPCA, contact Lynda Meade at 517.381.8000 x231 or
lmeade@mpca.net.