Smoking cessation
The University of Michigan Health System is a smoke-free environment. This means that smoking is not permitted anywhere on UMHS property – indoors or outside.
Our smoke-free policy demonstrates the Health System's commitment to improving the health of our patients, employees and the communities we serve.
Our mission of leadership in patient service, research and education includes fostering an environment where healthy behaviors are encouraged and supported.
The Health System is committed to providing the best care possible for our patients, and this includes removing barriers to healing and to health. As health care workers, we need to display positive health behaviors, and we need to demonstrate our belief that smoking is a health hazard that can be overcome.
Health hazards of smoking
The health hazards of tobacco use are numerous and well known. Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Tobacco use is implicated in the most common causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease.
In fact, one in every five deaths in the United States is smoking related. Lifelong smokers have a 1 in 2 chance of dying from a smoking-related disease. If a smoker dies from a smoking-related disease, he or she loses an average of 12 years of life.
Environmental or "second-hand" smoke also is an important and unnecessary cause of lung cancer and heart disease.
In children, exposure to smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, lung infections, asthma and chronic ear infections. Research shows that smoking also is responsible for longer stays in the post-surgery recovery room and longer healing times.
EHS can help!
Employee Health Service staff understand that employees who are smokers may find it difficult to refrain from tobacco use while on Health System property. We want to help you to comply with the policy and support our smoke-free environment. And if you choose to quit smoking altogether, we can help. We provide:
- nicotine replacement information and medications to help you quit
- nicotine replacement therapy, if you need it to get through the workday
- ongoing support when you need encouragement
- smoking cessation information
- stop-smoking classes information.
And we will work with your personal health care provider to get you the help you need!
Ongoing help provided
University of Michigan Health System leadership is committed to helping employees model and encourage healthy behaviors. For employees, free smoking-cessation classes and other assistance is available. For information, please contact Linda Thomas at Tobacco Consultation Service, 734-936-5988.
