As a cardiac surgeon, I gained a unique perspective of the human body and saw firsthand the awful effects disease can have on a person and a family. To see a damaged heart valve, calcified to the point where it almost seemed it would crumble, or a heart that had mushroomed to three times its normal size and was on the brink of failure, was never easy.
But of all the surgeries I performed, the most memorable are the ones where the disease was caused by smoking. It is difficult to describe what it is like to hold in your hands the blackened remains of what once was healthy lung tissue, or watch a loved one suffer with emphysema, like my father. It is something you cannot easily forget. Worst of all, the damage was totally preventable.
Smoking kills more people each year than the entire population of Cleveland. Even people who smoke know the harm they are causing their bodies; yet, many are unable to quit. As a healthcare institution devoted to the health and well-being of our patients and employees, it is our responsibility to do something to help those who suffer from this terrible addiction.
Free smoking cessation services
In January, we collaborated with the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line on a three-month program to provide Cuyahoga County residents with free smoking cessation resources.
Through this program, we offered free nicotine replacement therapy to all Cuyahoga County residents who have no insurance or employer coverage, as well as access to our Web-based smoking cessation program. We also provided computers to community recreation centers that allow free access to our quit smoking program. Because this trial program showed good initial success -- it generated 4,039 calls to the Quit Line and more than 4,600 nicotine patch kits were distributed to Cuyahoga County residents -- we extended our support for an additional three months.
Program results
Recently, the results for the program were released and I am very pleased at the impact it is having. From January through June, we helped an estimated 3,300 people quit smoking. It is projected that half of these people will remain smoke- free for the rest of their lives. Here's a number I find most impressive: in just these first six months, we will have added 15,277 years of life for those who quit smoking. These numbers don't even include the additional years of life others will gain from not inhaling second-hand smoke.
These numbers are very encouraging, and I can only hope that we can improve on them and continue to help even more people quit in the future. I am committed to ensuring Cleveland Clinic's continued support of this important program, and I encourage all of you who know a smoker to have him or her call the state's Quit Line and receive help. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in society today. There can be no more worthwhile pursuit than eradicating this silent killer forever.
While we are on the topic of smoking, I understand that there are differences of opinion about our recently announced policy to stop hiring smokers as of September 1st. Many people have told me that they totally agree with the idea. I have also seen and heard comments that what we are doing is discriminatory. Whether you agree or disagree with the policy, let me explain why I think it is important and what it means for you and me as employees of Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Clinic has been a leader in wellness and prevention. Our campus went smoke-free in 2005, we banned trans-fats from the foods we serve, and we supported the successful SmokeFreeOhio ballot initiatives. We also are committed to taking a lead role in shifting the national focus from "sick" care to "health" care.
As a true "health care" provider, we must create a culture of wellness that permeates the entire institution, from the care we provide, to our physical environment, to the food we offer, and yes, even to our employees. If we are to be advocates of healthy living and disease prevention, we need to be role models for our patients, our communities and each other. In other words, if we are to "talk the talk," we need to "walk the walk."
Hiring policy
Some have questioned the wisdom of our new hiring policy. I have no problem with that, and I understand the concerns it might generate. But we are not the first organization to implement such a policy. The World Health Organization, American Cancer Society and more than 6,000 companies across the country have adopted similar policies in an effort to promote a healthy workplace. It's a growing trend; one that will likely keep gaining momentum.
Some also have claimed that our new policy is not really about health, but about saving money. Let me answer that in two ways.
First, with our new policy, any applicant who fails the nicotine screening will be referred to a free tobacco cessation program that we pay for. Those who are successful in quitting will be encouraged to reapply after 90 days. The fact that we offer this free program ballot initiatives. We also are committed to taking a lead role in shifting the national focus from "sick" care to "health" care.
As a true "health care" provider, we must create a culture of wellness that permeates the entire institution, from the care we provide, to our physical environment, to the food we offer, and yes, even to our employees. If we are to be advocates of healthy living and disease prevention, we need to be role models for our patients, our communities and each other. In other words, if we are to "talk the talk," we need to "walk the walk."
Those who are successful in quitting will be encouraged to reapply after 90 days. The fact that we offer this shows how serious we are about helping people quit, and I am hopeful that it will encourage many more people to kick this awful habit and join our organization.
Secondly, no one can deny the staggering cost smoking places on society. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that smoking costs more than $75 billion annually in direct and indirect medical costs, and that businesses lose approximately $3,400 each year for every employee who uses tobacco because of increases in health costs and decreases in productivity related to smoking breaks.
I firmly believe that we have an obligation to help reduce these costs, and the best and most effective way to do this is through policies and programs that promote wellness and prevention. We need to help make Cleveland employers more competitive to preserve jobs for our area.
Finally, let me add this: While current employees will not be tested, I encourage any employee who smokes to please consider enrolling in a tobacco-cessation class. I know it is difficult to quit, but the good you will be doing yourself and your family is immeasurable. Just know that we are here to help.
In the end, our new hiring policy is good for our employees, our patients and the community. I believe it sends a strong statement about the type of healthcare organization we want to be.
