HJLR Mar/Apr 2019

58 MAR / APR 2019 I  Healthcare Journal of LITTLE ROCK dialogue Nathaniel Smith, MD, MPH Director and State Health Officer, Arkansas Department of Health column Director’s Desk BeWell, Arkansas Stroke, heart disease, and cancer are among the leading causes of death for Arkansans, but like many illnesses, these diseases are preventable. There are steps people can take to improve their health and lower the risk of chronic disease. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths both in Arkansas and nationally. More than one in five adults were cur- rent smokers in 2017. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has resources available to help Arkansans quit tobacco and to prevent and manage chronic illnesses. Healthcare pro- viders can play a key role in linking clients to health resources such as the new ADH service, Be Well Arkansas. InNovember 2018 , theADH transformed its tobacco and nicotine quit services into BeWell Arkansas. BeWell Arkansas not only provides tobacco and nicotine cessation services to helpArkansans quit tobacco, but also links them to resources for managing diabetes and high blood pressure. Services include telephone counseling and in-per- son counseling at select locations for those without insurance, and referrals for those with health insurance to resources avail- able through their carrier. TheADH has five wellness counselors in-house who are all tobacco treatment specialists that provide these services, as well as a nurse coordinator. In addition to counseling, BeWell Arkansas links Arkansans to wellness programs of- fered throughout the state. It is easy for healthcare providers to refer a patient to BeWell Arkansas. Similar to the referral process for the ADH’s former to- bacco and nicotine quit services, healthcare providers can send referrals via fax to Be Well Arkansas. ABeWell Arkansas fax form is available on the Quit Tobacco page of the program’s new website, www.bewellarkan- sas.org, and can be faxed to 1-800-827- 7057. Clients can also be referred to either 833-283-WELL or www.bewellarkansas.org for online intake. The BeWell Arkansas call center operates 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for state holidays. Arkansans calling after hours may leave a message to request services, or visit the program’s newwebsite, www.bewellarkansas.org , to fill out an on- line form. Awellness and cessation specialist will follow up within one business day. The website also offers information and links to wellness resources and features online chat, cessation mobile phone apps, and cessation and healthy living texting programs.