Health Care Provider Continuing Education

Tobacco use is a chronic disease condition that impacts all aspects of patient care.

"Cigarette smoking is...the chief, preventable cause of death in our society” (C.E. Koop). 430,000 deaths per year can be attributed to tobacco use nationwide. Over 2 million adult Floridians use tobacco; 70% of smokers say they want to quit.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that all health care providers treat tobacco dependence in their practices. A minimal intervention lasting three minutes or less can have a significant impact on smoking cessation rates and improve individual treatment outcomes for your patients.

Professional continuing education is offered by qualified staff and recognized experts in the field to health care providers and community partners on a variety of tobacco cessation related topics. Trainings are complimentary for providers who work with medically underserved populations in our service area.

 

Get with the Guidelines

Get with the Guidelines is a professional continuing education program targeting physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nutritionists, care coordinators, mental health and social workers, and other health care professionals.  No prerequisite knowledge is required. 

Upon completion of the 1.5 credit hour program, participants will be able to:

  1. Recognize and treat tobacco dependence as a chronic disease

  2. Deliver brief, effective interventions to patients willing to quit tobacco using the 5 A's

  3. Utilize the Stages of Change model and deliver brief, motivational interventions to patients unwilling to quit tobacco use at that time

  4. Prescribe FDA approved pharmacotherapies useful in tobacco cessation

  5. Refer tobacco users to cessation resources

Tobacco Continuing Education Modules

The AHEC Tobacco Program offers an online continuing education program used for both health professions students and health care professionals.  Completion of the modules will broaden a health care professional's understanding of tobacco-related issues and treatment modalities.  These modules are provided free to health care providers.  Registration is required in order to receive credit. 

 

Other Programs

We also offer discipline specific programs for pharmacists and dental professionals.  Please contact us for more information on these programs. 

Please see our Continuing Education page for information on programs not related to tobacco.

The contents of all of the A.T.T.A.C. educational programs are derived from the evidence based Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Public Health Services as supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

Please contact us for more information or to schedule a program. 

 

Sponsored by Gulfcoast South AHEC and the State of Florida, Department of Health.


IT IS PROVEN that a brief intervention from a clinician will greatly increase the chance of a patient’s successful quit. Please review the following resources for more information on how you can help your patients:

CDC Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs 2007

Public Health Services Tobacco Guidelines

Pharmacy RX for Change Program

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence

Clinician Quick Reference Guide

ABC of smoking cessation from the British Medical Journal

Surgeon General’s Report

Counseling to Prevent Tobacco Use

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Contact Us:

Karla Brody
Continuing Education Coordinator
kbrody@health.usf.edu

941-361-6602

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