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We did it!
As of midnight today—November
19—Lee Memorial Health System is officially a tobacco free
organization! That means no tobacco products, including but not
limited to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, may be used on our
properties, owned or leased.
Our LMHS team has come a long way since
March, when our Board of Directors officially signed the
documents that sent us down this path of becoming a tobacco free
organization. This is a very significant step for our
organization, as we continue to strive to improve the health
status of the citizens of Southwest Florida.
However, it is not just our patients who
will benefit from this initiative. LMHS started out with an
estimated 20 percent of our workforce using tobacco products, or
about 2,000 employees. To date, more than 400 employees have
said "good-bye" to tobacco. This is impressive!
Although the big day has finally arrived,
we know that it will be a struggle in the coming months to
adjust to our new status as a tobacco free health system, as
members of our team, as well as patients and visitors, adjust
their routines. We understand that tobacco use is an addiction,
and our System will continue to provide support programs for
those who want to quit or need some assistance getting through
the day.
This essential step has helped us to
become leaders in the fight against tobacco use in Southwest
Florida. However, LMHS is pleased to say that Lehigh Regional
Medical Center, Physicians Regional Healthcare System and NCH
Health Care System are also going tobacco free, meaning all
hospitals and health systems in Charlotte, Collier and Lee
counties will no longer permit tobacco usage on their premises.
Many other local businesses have jumped on board, as well!
Peace,
Jim Nathan
President, Lee Memorial Health System
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