Lexington Medical Center Offers Free Smoking Cessation Classes
December 29, 2014
First Session Begins Tuesday, January 6 in Lexington
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Are you trying to quit smoking in the New Year? Lexington Medical Center is pleased to offer a series of free smoking cessation classes to members of our community who want to kick the smoking habit for good. The classes, offered at the hospital’s community medical center in Lexington, meet once each week for two hours and lasts eight weeks. The program is open to anyone who wants to quit smoking, and because of a generous grant from the LMC Foundation, there is no cost to participate.
The first session of classes begins on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at 811 West Main Street in Lexington inside the Executive Conference Room on the 2nd floor. The session will continue at the same time and place on January 13, 20 and 27,February 3, 10, 17 and 24.
A second session of classes will take place from March 24 to May 12.
Lisa Lewis, an RN for Cardiac Rehabilitation at LMC Lexington, initiated the program two years ago to help others to quit smoking. She received her certification from the American Lung Association as a tobacco-cessation facilitator and began to build a program.
Since its inception, 49% of the people who completed the smoking-cessation program at LMC Lexington quit smoking, which is above the national average. The classes provide helpful tips for quitting.
The program doesn’t end with the completion of the eight-week course. Lewis and her team check on each participant at 30-, 90-, 180- and 365-day intervals for the first year. The American Lung Association also invited Lewis to become a facilitator trainer, which is a role usually reserved for its employees. LMC Lexington now has a team of five tobacco-cessation facilitators.
If you or someone you know wants to quit smoking and participate in Lexington Medical Center’s smoking-cessation program, please call (803) 358-6180. You must register for the class in advance.
About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 6,000 health care professionals. The network also includes comprehensive cardiovascular and oncology care affiliated with Duke Medicine, an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas and more than 60 physician practices. At its heart is the 414-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center has won “Best Hospital” by readers ofThe State for 12 years, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times, “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent, the “Consumer Choice Award” from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious “Summit Award” from Press Ganey for outstanding patient satisfaction. Visit LexMed.com.
