The Providence Health & Services Pharmacist-Assisted Cessation Class is a seven-week, 11-session, intensive group cessation class. It is based upon behavior modification techniques, coping skills, social support, weight management, and stress management. In addition to a counselor providing behavioral support, a pharmacist will evaluate the patient for appropriate smoking cessation therapy, provide initial and ongoing patient education and dispense medication (nicotine patch, bupropion, or varenicline). Pharmacotherapy is included in the price of the class and provided at no additional cost to participants. These Pharmacist-Assisted Cessation Classes are designed to help improve health system cessation efforts by addressing three distinct and important populations:

• Inpatients who quit during hospitalization and need intensive outpatient cessation programs after discharge
• Outpatients who need local cessation programs that are evidence-based, accessible, and available without physician referral
• Hospital employees who need onsite cessation programs

In response to the many requests from other hospitals and health systems interested in developing programs similar to our Pharmacist-Assisted Cessation Class, we have developed the attached .pdf document (53 pages). This is the story of how Providence Health & Services developed and implemented a pharmacist-assisted cessation class. We hope this document will help others develop similar programs across the country.