OU Medicine joins OHA's Hospitals Helping Patients Quit network

Posted on: 12/13/19


On the same day as the Great American Smokeout, Nov. 21, OU Medicine announced its intentions to help tackle Oklahoma’s number one cause of preventable death, tobacco related disease and illness. “Health care is not what we do. It is who we are. We have a responsibility to help patients, employees, and visitors quit tobacco,” said Chuck Spicer, president and CEO, OU Medicine (OUM).

The Oklahoma Hospital Association’s (OHA) Hospitals Helping Patients Quit, a grant program of TSET, has been providing consultation and support for the new tobacco cessation efforts at OUM, which will include comprehensive tobacco cessation support for patients, employees, and a reinvigorated focus on the tobacco-free campus policy at OUM.

“Curbing tobacco use is essential to improving health and reducing health care costs in Oklahoma. It is also one of the anchor strategies in the Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan. OUM is doing tremendous work by providing all patients who use tobacco with medications, counseling, and support to quit. OUM is joining a network of HHPQ partners, including more than 50 hospitals and 250 outpatient clinics that have collectively provided clinical tobacco treatment to countless patients and faxed or electronically referred 40,000 Oklahomans to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline for follow up treatment and support. Due to enhanced quit rates, it is estimated that these referral efforts have resulted in 28,000 years of life saved and $14.1 million in health care cost saved,” said Eric Finley, health improvement initiatives manager, OHA.

For more information about the HHPQ initiative, please contact Kelly Willingham at [email protected], or click here.

Save the dates for OHA 2022 events

Posted on: 2/18/22


It’s a new year and a new lineup of important events for you and your staff. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to engage in advocacy, education and networking all year long. Mark your calendar now!

OHA Advocacy Day - Tuesday, April 5, Oklahoma History Center. Join us for our annual legislative day. We will begin with a member briefing at 3 p.m., followed by a legislative reception at 5 p.m. Watch for registration materials soon.

OHA-PAC Golf Tournament - Tuesday, June 21, Jimmie Austin Golf Club at OU, Norman. Time and details TBA.

OHA Health Care Leaders Forum - Tuesday, July 19 - Thursday, July 21, Shangri-La Resort, Grand Lake. Watch for registration soon!

OHA Connect 22 - Wednesday, Nov. 9 - Friday, Nov. 11, Oklahoma City Convention Center and Omni Hotel, downtown Oklahoma City. Plan now to attend OHA’s annual conference and exhibit hall. More details to come.

Details on these events and other upcoming education opportunities will be available on the OHA website.