FLUSHING HOSPITAL OFFERS FREE SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM

FLUSHING, NY — Just in time for The Great American Smokeout ®, Flushing Hospital will now be distributing nicotine patches and offering a Smoking Cessation Counseling Group as a free community service to those interested in combating smoking.

As part of the Smoking Cessation Program, nicotine patches will be made available to employees and current patients of Flushing Hospital and members of the community, at no charge. The nicotine patch helps patients wean off nicotine slowly, by providing a measured dose of nicotine through the skin.

Members of the community can receive their 6-week supply of patches from the Flushing Hospital Medical Clinic, upon completion of the Department of Health’s treatment consent form and general information sheet. Flushing Hospital patients are also offered patches during medical visits.

The Smoking Cessation Counseling Group will be held on a regular basis at Flushing Hospital , depending on the needs of the community. It will be a 6-8 week comprehensive counseling session. There is no hospital registration required and the program is completely free of charge. It is being administered by Flushing Hospital doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists who have been trained as cessation counselors and it is open to anyone who may be interested. Those who attend will receive follow-up phone calls to monitor and evaluate their progress.

The Program will be made available in multiple languages to assist those non-English speaking participants. In the future, the Program will also be expanded to include employees and patients throughout the Medisys Health Network.

The Great American Smokeout ® is an annual event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, to help smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day in hopes that they will quit for a lifetime. Today, 45.8 million Americans smoke, 70% of which say they want to quit. By participating in Smoking Cessation Programs and using the nicotine patch, those who smoke can help reduce their risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and other physical health issues linked to cigarette smoking. Those who quit smoking can enjoy a higher quality of life.