Hospitals Helping Patients Quit partners reach new milestone with 34,000 referrals to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline

Posted on: 2/6/19


Hospitals Helping Patients Quit (HHPQ), an initiative of the OHA and a grant program of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), wants to recognize participating hospital and clinic partners who together have referred more than 34,000 tobacco users to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. This is a huge milestone that wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and hard work from HHPQ partners to reduce tobacco use in Oklahoma. Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., accounting for 20 percent of all heart disease and 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths. As a state, Oklahoma has made great strides in reducing the prevalence of tobacco use among its adult population from 26.1 percent to 20 percent in the last eight years.  

HHPQ provides comprehensive support to hospitals/clinics to develop robust tobacco treatment programs for patients, including proactive referral to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. Currently, it has more than 50 hospital and 220 clinic partners working on cessation in about 30 counties across the state. Since October 2010, the OTH has received nearly 34,000 fax, web, or electronic referrals from HHPQ tobacco cessation partners. This has resulted in an estimated 24,000 years of life saved and millions of dollars in reduced health care costs.

HHPQ continues to push forward in its tobacco cessation support efforts to Oklahoma health systems by maintaining current partnerships and also actively seeking to bring new ones on board. For more information about the HHPQ initiative, please contact Kelly Willingham at [email protected], or go to www.okoha.com/hhpq. 

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.