Goal 3: Decrease health impact of environmental exposure to air particulate matter
Anticipated Impact
Because air particulate matter, such as tobacco smoke, car exhaust, and wildfire smoke, have been linked to increased prevalence of respiratory illness and worse outcomes, we anticipate decreasing exposure to air particulate matter will reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations for acute respiratory episodes. Additionally, reducing exposure may reduce prevalence of chronic respiratory disease, in turn reducing burden on the health care system.
Strategy 3.1
Improve tobacco screening and intervention by providers during routine and unexpected healthcare encounters.
Tactic: CHCO will develop training for providers on best practice methods for screening pediatric patients for exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. This will include motivational interviewing skills and provision of cessation assistance when appropriate.
Tactic: CHCO will adapt the materials developed in tactic 1.1 for use by community providers.
Tactic: CHCO will explore the creation of a tobacco cessation clinic. This clinic will be staffed by an advanced practice provider and will see adolescents and adults, following the successful model currently in place at Denver Health Medical Center.
Setting / Delivery Mechanism
Provider – Training, resources, and technical assistance for providers around tobacco screening, advising, and cessation assistance will be made available for providers at CHCO and in the community.
Internal Resources
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Child Health Clinic
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Adolescent Medicine
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Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services
External Resources
Partners will be defined based on targeted communities for intervention. Current partners include but are not limited to:
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Denver Health Medical Center
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Colorado QuitLine
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Local public health departments
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Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
O O Community pediatric and family practice providers
Community Health Action Plan 59