The North Country’s Army of Tobacco Treatment Specialists Grows

The North Country Healthy Heart Network, with funds secured from the American Lung Association, sponsored attendance of three more North Country providers at Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (CTTS) training last week. Two staff from Adirondack Health and a nurse case manager from Northern Adirondack Medical Home attended the five-day training at Rutgers Tobacco Dependence Program in New Brunswick, New Jersey. “The training far exceeded my expectations in terms of what I learned and how interesting and engaging it was,” commented Elise Rock from Northern Adirondack Medical Home. “The class was practical and the discussions really added to the learning experience,” she explained. “I’d recommend this to health professionals on all levels.”

Over the last two years the Heart Network has sponsored  six local providers to attend this training. The Heart Network is working in tandem with attendee health systems as they develop and implement evidence based tobacco treatment policies. In addition to Adirondack Health and Northern Adirondack Medical Home, Citizen Advocates and the St. Regis Mohawk Health Services also have Tobacco Treatment Specialists on staff.

Becky Boon, Nurse Practitioner Adirondack Health Linda Savarie, Nurse Educator Adirondack Health Elise Rock, Nurse Case Manager Northern Adk Medical Home