NSMC News Releases

Today, North Shore Medical Center is participating in the annual American Cancer Society’s Great Smokeout. To assist those who currently smoke to quit the habit, the NSMC Smoking Cessation Service has smoking cessation counselors at Salem and Union hospitals answering questions about NSMC’s successful programs.

“Four years ago, NSMC was among the first healthcare organizations in the Commonwealth to go tobacco-free, taking a strong stance against what is known to be the number one preventable cause of disease and premature death. NSMC’s tobacco-free policy, which prohibits the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products across all NSMC facilities, inside and out, has been highly successful in helping the organization create a healthier environment for our patients, visitors and staff.

“Everyone in the NSMC community stands to benefit from this new, stronger, tobacco-free policy,” says Arthur Bowes, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, “This sends a clear message that the hospital supports a healthy lifestyle.”

NSMC’s most successful program is called Quit and Quit for Good, which is offered at both the Salem and Union campuses. This program combines counseling, nicotine replacement therapy and other approaches (including hypnotherapy and meditation) to help patients quit smoking for good.

The Smoking Cessation program is eight weeks long and is designed to help participants discover the real reasons why they are smoking. It also offers behavioral modification strategies paired with relaxation techniques and coping skills. This program allows participants to share their experiences with others in a group setting which creates a support system.

NSMC also offers many health and wellness programs. Acupuncture, Reiki, and yoga are all therapies incorporated to help a participant to quit smoking. Individual counseling is also available upon request.

For more information, please contact the NSMC Smoking Cessation Service at 781-477-3900.

###

NSMC (North Shore Medical Center) is a multi-site health system headquartered in Salem, Mass., which includes NSMC Salem Hospital, NSMC Union Hospital in Lynn, MassGeneral for Children at North Shore Medical Center, NSMC Heart Center, NSMC Women’s Center and the physician network known as North Shore Physicians Group. NSMC and Massachusetts General Hospital together provide care at the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care and the Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers. NSMC is a member of Partners HealthCare, which was founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  #northshoremed