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Nearly a year ago, LMHS committed itself to a new goal--to help as
many employees as possible stop smoking and finally kick their bad
habit for good. LMHS has helped hundreds of employees say goodbye to
their cigarettes in favor of a new and smoke-free lifestyle.
The Stop Smoking program provides employees with the tools they need
to kick the habit. System team members, known as the Better
Breathing Crew, provide resources and support in the cafeterias at
all five hospitals and the Santa Barbara building on the second
Wednesday of every month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Quit smoking
tips are also provided weekly in an employee newsletter. LMHS
employees and their spouses can attend Freedom from Smoking classes
at no charge, as well as receive free smoking cessation medications,
such as Chantix and Nicorette gum. The goal is to provide as much
support as possible as employees fight their addiction to
cigarettes.
Jon Cecil, LMHS’ Chief Human Resources Officer, is excited and
hopeful to see the results of this revolutionary program. “I hope
these individuals can be the fire starters in our organization to
help many others stop smoking and enjoy the long term health and
happiness that a smoke free lifestyle offers,” he says.
System Director of Health Advocacy, Joan Carroll, says quitting
smoking will improve employee’s health. Smoking has been linked to
almost every disease including lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes,
infertility, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and
vascular problems.
“I am very proud of our System and our Better Breathing Crew for
providing education and support for all our employees this whole
year. More and more people come to our tables in the cafeteria and
begin the journey toward a tobacco free life and improved health,”
she says.
To date, more than 330 people within the Lee Memorial Health System
have quit smoking with the program’s help.
“Congratulations to all those people who beat the addiction. It can
be a rough road. And our whole committee is dedicated to helping
more people quit smoking,” says Joan.
Pharmacy Director, Mark Collum, says the System is supportive of
employees who are trying to quit. “Any employees who have tried to
quit and not yet been successful can reach out to us in the Health
Plan Pharmacy or to the Better Breathing Crew for another suggestion
to help them succeed," says Mark.
The program is so revolutionary that other employers are interested
in modeling similar Stop Smoking programs within their own
companies.
If you are interested in learning more about creating a similar
program at your company, please contact Joan Carroll, System
Director of Health Advocacy, at
joan.carroll@leememorial.org.
Not an LMHS employee but are still interested in kicking your
cigarettes to the curb? Visit
www.tobaccofreeflorida.com to utilize the smoking prevention and
cessation resources provided as part of the Tobacco Free Florida
campaign by the state of Florida.
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