The DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) and Abilene Christian University will co-host the educational webinar “Clinicians Role in Advocating Smoking Cessation” on Wednesday, October 11 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Abilene Christian University (ACU) came aboard as a DFWHC Associate Member in 2017, offering a 10 percent discount to DFWHC members to online healthcare graduate programs operating out of the local ACU Dallas Campus.

For almost a decade, DFWHC has advocated for smoking bans in public venues throughout the metroplex. DFWHC President/CEO W. Stephen Love appeared at the Arlington City Council meeting on May 9 to detail the public advantages and healthcare savings when smoking bans are enacted, with the Council passing a ban proposal by a 7-2 vote.

The webinar will be introduced by Love, who will also participate in the Q&A. Dr. Tonya Sawyer-McGee, the director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice at ACU and a former acute care nurse at Parkland Health & Hospital System, will serve as speaker.

With cigarette smoking the leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in the U.S., healthcare providers can contribute significantly to the war against tobacco use since studies show patients advised to quit smoking are 1.6 times more likely end their habit.

“The most effective preventive intervention a clinician can provide for tobacco-using patients is an empathic, personalized smoking cessation intervention program with extended assistance and follow-up,” said Dr. Sawyer-McGee. “The goal of the intervention must be complete smoking cessation. Interventions are readily available, but underutilized.”

Dr. Sawyer-McGee will detail what it takes to achieve and maintain such programs.

This webinar is complimentary. To register, click here.

For information, please contact Jourdan Pruit at jpruit@dfwhc.org or call 469-648-5116.