Smoking/Tobacco Status & Cessation Counseling

Did you know that in order to properly assess the smoking/tobacco status of a patient, you need to look at the first office visit as well as the most recent office visit? If a patient was a smoker/tobacco user at the first office visit, but has quit at the most recent office visit, the proper answer choice in MOQCLink is Smoker or tobacco use, while under the care of the practice AND former smoker. When choosing this option, you will be prompted enter the date of the most recent tobacco cessation counseling despite the fact that the patient has quit. Because the patient entered the practice as a smoker/tobacco user, we must assess if the practice offered cessation counseling to the patient. Also, as a reminder, vaping counts as tobacco use but marijuana use does not.