Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free NY (HSTFNY)

SBH Health System Advances Health Equity +

Standardizing Tobacco Screening & Treatment Protocols at SBH Health System Advances Health Equity in New York State

The Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free New York (HSTFNY) partnered with SBH Health System in 2024 and 2025 to first increase screening and treatment for tobacco use among their patient population and second to build a more robust patient resource workflow following appointments. The collaboration aimed to implement tobacco use treatment strategies, leveraging evidence-based approaches to improve health equity within the community.

The Challenge

We know that people who smoke double their odds of quitting when they work with a healthcare provider; SBH Health System had several system-level policies that mentioned “tobacco,” but none outlined their process specifically for treating tobacco use. In 2024, to increase provider knowledge and rates of treatment for patients, HSTFNY supported SBH Health System in standardizing screening and treatment strategies, ensuring clinicians were equipped to address these issues consistently with all patients. In 2025, HSTFNY supported SBH Health System in enhancing the capabilities of their MyChart App and EPIC After Visit Summary, creating a system so that both forms of patient outreach tools provide educational materials following a visit, adding additional touchpoints for tobacco use education and treatment.

A Simple 3-Step Approach to Organizational Change

HSTFNY Introductory Meeting
HSTFNY connected with the Vice President of Ambulatory Care Quality & Population Health in February 2024. Following this meeting, SBH Health System brought varied departmental stakeholders (Adolescent, Psychiatry, Primary Care) to the conversation to discuss current assets and needs.

Standardized Workflow Development
HSTFNY provided a customizable template policy for tobacco treatment, incorporating evidence-based tools like the “5 A’s” framework (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange), for their Primary Care branch.

Program Launch
This policy was effective by May 2025 and was supported by EHR changes to match the new workflow: Clinicians integrated standardized screening tools and treatment protocols into their practices.

Continued Support

HSTFNY and SBH Health System have maintained their relationship since 2024. This 2025, HSTFNY and the Vice President of Ambulatory Care Quality & Population Health reconnected to increase the dissemination of pertinent patient education materials through another standardized workflow. By the end of HSTFNY’s 2024-2025 grant year, they will have provided $7,500 in mini-grant funding to support organizational change related to tobacco use treatment at SBH Health System. SBH Health System has used the funding for EPIC consultants to enhance their EHR. Beyond this, HSTFNY has provided NRT, educational materials, and training opportunities to SBH Health System and will continue to be a resource for the SBH Health System team.

Key Outcomes

This collaboration exemplifies the power of liaising with executive-level leadership and key departmental stakeholders, tailoring strategies specific to each health system, and implementing evidence-based practices to address tobacco use on both the provider and patient levels.

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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Amanda Mulhern

Amanda is the Manager of Community Health Programs (CHP) at St. Peter’s Health Partners, based in Troy, NY. She has worked in the tobacco cessation field since 2013 and, together with her team, assists medical and behavioral health care organizations/providers in a 9-county catchment area with developing and improving processes to address client tobacco use. Notably, CHP is focused on working with a variety of underserved populations, such as Federally Qualified Health Centers, rural community health centers, and community-based organizations. In addition, we place great value on input from community stakeholders.
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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Scott McIntosh, PhD, MA

Dr. McIntosh is Co-Director of the Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Research Program and Director of the Center for a Tobacco-Free Finger Lakes. He researches nicotine dependence interventions and trains medical professionals in guideline-based interventions. He has also contributed to global health projects on tobacco cessation, maternal health improvement, and diabetes prevention.
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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Kimberly Bank

Kimberly Bank and HSTFWNY have over 40 years of combined experience in treating tobacco use disorders and implementing treatment systems change in healthcare organizations. They help healthcare organizations integrate evidence-based tobacco use disorder treatment into routine care and practice.
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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Jackie Saltarelli, MPH

Jackie is the Program Manager for NYC Treats Tobacco and works with a team to support tobacco cessation efforts at healthcare organizations throughout all five boroughs of NYC. Prior to joining NYC Treats Tobacco in 2021, Jackie worked in healthcare development and received her Masters of Public Health.
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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Riley Brennan

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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Susan Lennon, CTTS

Susan is a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and Tobacco Program Manager at the Center for a Tobacco-Free Hudson Valley. With over 12 years of experience in the NYS Bureau of Tobacco Control Health Systems, she leads a team that provides evidence-based education and support to medical and behavioral health organizations in seven Hudson Valley counties to integrate tobacco dependence treatment into workflows.
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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Kristen Richardson, RN

Kristen Richardson is Director of Community Engagement and CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems at St. Joseph’s Health. She has a background in research, education, community partnerships, advocacy, and health disparities. Recently, she led a successful clinical team in value-based contracts, contributing to significant savings.
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Meet Your Regional Tobacco Control Specialist:

Jennifer Sidi, MSN, AGACNP-BC

Jennifer is the Director of the Center for Tobacco Control at the Northwell Health System. She leads a team that helps approximately 600 patients annually with tobacco cessation. Additionally, Jennifer educates the community and health systems about tobacco use control guidelines, and works in underserved communities to improve access to medical care, vaccines, and preventative care.