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Tobacco Free Lee Initiative
November 19, 2009 |
It’s a typical day at the Regional Cancer Center. Patients are coming and going,
doctors and staff are evaluating patients, but there’s definitely a change in the
air.
“We’re certainly not the first. There were more than 70 systems in Florida that
preceeded us going tobacco free on their premises,” says Sally Jackson, System Director
of Community Projects.
As of today, smoking is no longer allowed on hospital properties or outpatient grounds.
Even areas around the physician’s offices are tobacco-free. “We believe that this
is a pursuit of our core mission: improving the health status of the community.
And in doing so, we hope we will reduce cost of healthcare for everyone and we will
have people living longer, happier, healthier lives,” adds Jackson.
Lee Memorial Health System’s new policy is part of a bigger state-wide initiative
to make the air cleaner for staff, visitors, and patients. “We asked the other hospital
systems in Collier and Lee to join us on November 19th this year to be tobacco free.
And we were delighted that literally all of them agreed,” she says.
Lee Memorial Health System is also working with the Lee County Government and the
Health Department in their quest to eventually be “tobacco free” on their properties
as well.
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