E-referrals Close Loop in Smoking Cessation Initiative

Healthcare providers in the UCLA Health System will soon be able to send an “eReferral” for tobacco cessation through CareConnect, the patients’ electronic health record, to the California Smokers’ Helpline.

The helpline, based at UC San Diego, offers free telephone counseling and follow-up support that UCLA officials claim doubles the chances of long-term quitting. Referred patients cared for in the UCLA Health System as inpatients or outpatients will then receive a call from a helpline counselor within one to two business days. The ordering provider will, in turn, receive a CareConnect results message from the helpline about the interaction with the patient.

UCLA Health officials said the eReferral joins the helpline’s 1-800-NO-BUTTS number in the system's arsenal to help smokers quit. The phone line has been around for over 20 years, but eReferral ensures that the helpline will connect with a referred patient and that the ordering provider will be kept informed.