Smoke-Free Initiative

Help Kicking the Habit

A message from the CEO

Did you know more deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined? According to the Surgeon General, adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for 440,000 deaths or nearly one of every five deaths in the United States.

Smoking is truly a health epidemic that affects not only the smoker but also those who are exposed to the second-hand smoke by non-smokers in public areas. Because of the negative effects of tobacco, Adirondack Medical Center set a standard for healthy living by going tobacco/smoke free at all of its sites in November 2007. While AMC has been smoke-free inside all of its buildings for many years, this initiative now includes the elimination of smoking anywhere on hospital grounds (outside). As the leading health care provider in the region, we feel very strongly about being committed to the wellness of our community. By completely eliminating the use of tobacco on our campus we feel we are setting a positive example of healthy living for our patients, visitors and associates.

And, we are not alone in this endeavor. Along with AMC, other hospitals that joined in on this wellness initiative include, Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, Carthage Area Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Hospital in Ogdensburg, CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur, Elizabethtown Community Hospital, Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville and Massena Memorial Hospital.

Most importantly, this effort was not intended to alienate or isolate smokers at AMC. Help is available here at the hospital to help those who smoke overcome an extremely addictive habit. AMC employees have the opportunity to take advantage of smoking cessation programs offered by the hospital in which participants have achieved a higher rate of success than traditional programs of the past.

The educational programs to quit smoking are free of charge, and the hospital will pay for half of any nicotine replacement therapy and/or pharmacotherapies as part of an eight-week treatment program. For more information on these programs, contact Linda Savarie in the Decker Learning Center at 897-2274, or Jessica Darney-Buehler in Wellness at 523-8350. Or, view the available resources on our website, click here.

Understanding that this transition is challenging for some, please do not hesitate to take advantage of these valuable services. The ultimate goal in this initiative is not only to protect the health and well-being of those we care for, but to also protect the health and welfare of a valued and irreplaceable asset: Our employees.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this initiative, and as always do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Chandler M. Ralph
President & CEO
Adirondack Medical Center
cralph@amcCares.org
897-2300

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