Hudson Valley Hospital Center Prepares for Tobacco-Free Campus in November
Employees offered ways to quit smoking at June 15th employee picnic
Cortlandt Manor, NY - (June 15, 2011) –Hudson Valley Hospital Center employees signed up to get help kicking the habit on Wednesday as part of the Hospital’s plan to institute a tobacco-free campus in November.
The Hospital is offering employees a choice of tobacco cessation programs and aids to help them quit before the Hospital goes tobacco-free on November 17, the day of the American Cancer Society’s 36th Annual Great American Smokeout. At that time, there will be no smoking on the hospital campus. This applies to employees as well as visitors.
"The first phase was to announce our intention to create a Tobacco-Free Campus," said John C. Federspiel, President, Hudson Valley Hospital Center. "This second phase is to prepare employees for the change by offering those who smoke help in quitting. At Hudson Valley Hospital Center we are all about health and wellness so this move is something that is long overdue."
Employees are being offered hypnosis and a smoking cessation 4-week coaching program as well as reduced-priced patches, lozenges and nicotine gum.
Federspiel said that the next step will be for the hospital to add to the smoking cessation programs it offers the public to help encourage community members to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Studies show that smoking is linked to coronary heart disease, emphysema and throat cancer as well as some other serious diseases such as leukemia, pneumonia and cancers of the cervix, kidneys, pancreas and stomach. About 46 million Americans smoke. The New York State Health Department has a public awareness campaign that offers help to smokers seeking to quit. To find out more about it, visit www.hvhc.org orhttp://www.nysmokefree.com.
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