Family Health Centers Join In Smoke-Free Revolution

Florida Hospital's Family Health Centers Now Offer Smoking/Tobacco Cessation Programs

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 27, 2007 - As major institutions move toward smoke-free public areas in 2007, Florida Hospital is helping cigarette smokers become part of the smoke-free revolution.  Florida Hospital's Family Health Center Orlando and Family Health Center East Orlando now offer smoking/tobacco cessation clinics.

Participants receive a combination of individualized medical treatment and behavioral modification during their weekly one-on-one visits with physicians for as long as it takes them to quit smoking or using tobacco.  The premise of this program involves "nicotine fading," or weaning down the amount of nicotine that a patient ingests.

"Our goal is to keep the patient feeling well, while weaning them off of cigarettes at their own pace," said Dr. Lyn Johnson, DO, Medical Director for the Family Health Center East Orlando.  "It teaches the brain to become less addicted to nicotine, lessening the chance of a relapse." 

Tina Warren successfully quit smoking through the cessation clinic at Florida Hospital's Family Health Center Orlando.  Because the cessation program does not drastically change the patients' smoking habits, Warren's husband did not even realize that she quit smoking. 

"I have been smoke-free for five months," Warren said. "In all my attempts to quit, I have never made it this far."

According to Dr. Fred Seifer, founder of this tobacco cessation intervention otherwise known as HIP (Health-status Improvement Program), the program has the potential for an 84 percent quit rate at six months among its participants. The key to success is giving the patients a choice and moving at a personalized rate with each patient.  Most health insurance is accepted, and this program is open to all ages. For more information or to make an appointment at Family Health Center Orlando, call 407/303-1967. For the Family Health Center East Orlando, call 407/303-6830.

For more information, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217. 

###