Implementation of an electronic health record-based care management system to improve tobacco treatment

Tobacco treatment is underused in primary care. We designed a Tobacco Care Management system to increase the delivery of treatment and reduce the burden on primary care providers (PCPs). A one-click functionality added to the electronic health record (EHR) allowed PCPs to refer smokers to a centralized tobacco treatment coordinator (TTC) who called smokers, provided brief counseling, connected them to ongoing treatment and gave feedback to PCPs.

To study the system's feasibility and acceptability among PCPs, and its utilization by smokers.

Using a mixed methods design, we documented system utilization quantitatively from February 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011, and conducted two focus groups with PCPs in June 2011.

Thirty-six PCPs and 2,894 smokers from two community health centers in Massachusetts.

Quantitative: One-click referral utilization by PCPs, proportion of smokers referred and connected to treatment. Qualitative: PCPs' reasons for use, barriers to use, and experiences with feedback.

Twenty-nine PCPs (81 %) used the functionality more than once, generating 466 referrals for 15 % of known smokers seen during the study. The TTC reached 260 (56 %) of the referrals and connected 135 (29 %) to additional treatment. The director of one center sent PCPs monthly feedback about their utilization compared to peers. These PCPs referred a greater proportion of their known smokers (18 % vs. 9 %, p<0.0001) and reported that monthly feedback motivated referrals. PCPs attending focus groups (n=24) appreciated the system's simplicity, access to updated resources, and time-efficient way to address smoking, and wanted more feedback about cessation outcomes. They collectively supported the system's continuation.

A novel EHR-based Tobacco Care Management system was adopted by PCPs, especially those receiving performance feedback, and connected one-third of referred smokers to treatment. The model has the potential to improve the delivery and outcomes of evidence-based tobacco treatment in primary care.