
North Country Nicotine Consultants (NCNC) provide resources and consultation to health care providers to help increase delivery of comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for nicotine addiction. The Heart Network, in partnership with Glens Falls Hospital, offers NCNC to work collaboratively with health care systems to develop and support the consistent and effective identification and treatment of tobacco users. Special consideration is given, but not limited to, those that serve disparate populations with low-income, low-educational attainment and/or behavioral health care needs. NCNC services are made possible thanks to Health Systems for a Tobacco Free New York grant through the New York State Department of Health.
Free Resources for Medical & Behavioral Health Care Providers
- Consultation and review of existing tobacco/nicotine treatment policies. Expert support with the development of a cohesive plan for introducing and sustaining comprehensive, evidence-based tobacco use and dependency treatment interventions.
- Implementation assistance to support integration of evidence-based, tobacco dependence treatment services and policies across the health care system without disrupting clinical workflow.
- Performance improvement planning to support ongoing quality improvement. Customized training and resources for systems staff and tobacco treatment champions. Additional support can be given to those systems treating disparate populations and/or other addictions.
- Tobacco cessation resources and materials for tobacco users.
Providers Can Make a Difference
Tobacco dependance remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. In any given year, 70% of tobacco users will visit a health care provider. Clinicians have an opportunity to treat tobacco use and dependency as they would any other chronic disease, with behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy. Just three to five minutes of brief counseling can double a patient’s chance of quitting. Long-term quit rates increase 20% with consistent follow-up counseling and up 30% when counseling is combined with pharmacotherapy.
Talk to Your Patients
Providers help patients quit smoking by using proven and effective treatments for nicotine addiction, including medications and smoking cessation counseling.
When providers treat smokers through counseling and medication, long-term abstinence rates increase dramatically. New York State’s Talk to Your Patients program equips providers with tools and resources to help work with smokers trying to quit to set them up for success. Click the button below to learn more.
Contact Us
Health care systems that are interested in obtaining more information are encouraged to contact:
Clinton, Essex, Franklin, & St. Lawrence Counties
Arriana Patraw
Health Systems Coordinator
apatraw@heartnetwork.org
(518) 891-5855 ext. 2
Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Warren & Washington Counties
Riley Brennan
Program Coordinator
rbrennan@glensfallshop.org
(517) 926-5906
