Starting tomorrow, stepping out for a quick smoke break may take a little longer for health system employees and guests in Lee County. That’s because finding a designated smoking area will be challenging.

“What we have done is tried to move smoking areas away from public view. Some of the locations are near where they are today, some of those locations may be a little more remote,” explains Brad Pollins, System Director of Organizational Effectiveness for Lee Memorial Health System.

On Friday, Lee Memorial Health System launches Phase II of its movement towards a “Tobacco Free Lee”. Smoking locations will be limited to just two spots per hospital. One designated for employees, the other for visitors. “One objective is to really send a signal, yes, we are moving toward tobacco free, but also to begin to show a commitment to having a healthier environment for our visitors and employees,” adds Pollins.

Recent research finds that secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous as smoking itself, just one of the reasons for the tobacco policy changes. “We are a mission driven organization. Our mission is to improve the health status of the people of Southwest Florida and continue to meet their health care needs, so we really want to be able to role model what are mission statement says we are about,” adds Pollins.

One out of every five deaths in this country are blamed on smoking, a habit which can spark cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and other fatal illnesses.

“The phased approach was really determined to be the most respectful, compassionate way to begin weaning people towards to “Tobacco-Free Lee” on November 19.” That’s when Phase III will go into effect. The date coincides with the “Great American Smokeout.” All of Lee Memorial’s facilities, both hospitals and physicians offices, will be declared tobacco free.