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Orthopedic Center of Florida Puts Patient's Health First
December 28, 2017
Contact: Tobacco-Free Lee Coalition
Debora.Ithier@flhealth.gov
239-332-9514
Fort Myers, Fla. – The Tobacco-Free Lee Coalition congratulates the Orthopedic Center of Florida on taking a bold step to protect the health of patients and staff and is excited to announce that effective Monday, January 1, 2018, the Orthopedic Center of Florida will be a tobacco free worksite.
“Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in this county,” said Kelli Ruffino, Human Resources Manager. “Adding a tobacco free and smokefree policy is our commitment as a responsible organization to provide a safe and healthy environment for the patients that come to our facilities for care and our own employees.”
By going tobacco free, the Orthopedic Center of Florida aims to protect patients and staff from involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke: a deadly mix of 7,000 chemicals, with at least 250 that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer.[i] According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.[ii] In Florida, 83 percent of adults are non-smokers.[iii]
When the new policy goes into effect, smoking or use of tobacco products, objects or devices, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco products will be prohibited at all Orthopedic Center of Florida facilities. This includes the Orthopedic Center of Florida building and premises.
To ease the transition for staff who are tobacco users, onsite tobacco cessation services will be offered at no cost through a partnership with Nova Southeastern University’s Everglades Area Health Education Center program. Tobacco Free Florida’s free Quit Your Way cessation resources will also be made available to patients and staff.
[i] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US); National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (US); Office on Smoking and Health (US). How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US); 2010.
[ii] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: What It Means to You. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2010
[iii] Nguyen, K., Marshall, L., Hu, S., and Neff, L. State-specific prevalence of current cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use among adults aged >/=18 years - United States, 2011-2013. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 64[19], 532-536. 22 May 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6419a6.htm#Fig1 [Last Accessed: 6 Aug 2015]
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