Hospital gets grant for tobacco cessation

JUNEAU - Bartlett Regional Hospital received a grant for tobacco cessation programs from the state Department of Health, the hospital announced Wednesday.

The award of $83,333 will help pay for tobacco cessation programs set up by the national Centers for Disease Control.

Areas of focus will include preventing teens from starting to smoke, helping users stop and eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke.

The money will be used to hire a consultant, educate medical workers and establish policies related to intervention.

The hospital hired nurse Linda Kooksi, a certified tobacco treatment specialist, to coordinate the program.