UMass Memorial Medical Center is fully committed to reducing the incidence of tobacco use in our community.
To support this goal, UMass Memorial Medical Center is 100 percent tobacco free, both indoors and outdoors, including parking garages and in vehicles parked there. This ban is for all tobacco products, including chewing tobacco, and extends to everyone who smokes - patients, visitors, employees, students and vendors.
We recognize that using a combination of behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy gives smokers the greatest chance of success in quitting smoking. We offer our patients who need help to quit smoking several services listed here.
Ambulatory Patient Services
- Individual counseling is available, by appointment, Wednesdays, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, at the UMass Memorial Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, 361 Plantation Street, Worcester. Appointments: 508-334-5393.
- Group counseling is offered Tuesdays, 4 to 5 pm (ongoing drop-in classes after screening evaluation) at the UMass Memorial Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, 361 Plantation Street, Worcester. Screening/enrollment appointments: 508-334-5393.
- Information on general information, telephone counseling or other questions related to tobacco treatment medications can be directed to our Tobacco Counseling Center at 774-442-4372.
Inpatient Services
All tobacco users admitted as inpatients to UMass Memorial Medical Center are asked about their nicotine addiction and offered medication to cope with withdrawal symptoms. Individual counseling service is also available, weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm. To request this service we ask our patients to speak with their health care provider or call directly to our Tobacco Counseling Center at 774-442-4372 and a tobacco treatment specialist will visit for an initial assessment and follow-up recommendations.
Tobacco Treatment Medications
Most health insurance plans, including Mass Health (Medicare, Medicaid), cover the nicotine patch, the gum, lozenge and other tobacco treatment medications. The main requirement is to have a prescription signed by your primary care provider. Some plans will also ask you to enroll in a tobacco counseling program.
Tobacco Treatment Telephone Counseling
Massachusetts offers a tobacco treatment telephone counseling service. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669. You can also access this service by asking your medical provider to complete and submit a QuitWorks form, which you also must sign.
Tobacco Cessation Meetings
If you want to join a local group to help you quit smoking, you can get the information on the Internet by linking here. (https://www.nicotine-anonymous.org) Indicate your state and hometown for local listings.