Advocacy Update: Physicians Urged to Be More Active in Getting Patients to Quit Smoking
ACP leader sees CDC's new campaign as an opportunity for internists
The American College of Physicians has joined a nationwide effort by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to encourage conversations between smokers and their doctors about quitting tobacco use.
"It's a huge public health issue, and it's an area where internists can really improve the health of their patients," said Dr. Charles Cutler, chairman of the ACP Board of Regents. "There's so much in medicine that's beyond the control of physicians, but here is an opportunity to prevent so many cases of cancer and emphysema and throat illnesses and pneumonia. It really is an unusual opportunity within the profession to do something important for patients." Read more...