Will Offer Smoking Cessation Program to the Community

White Plains, NY (April 2009) – The Westchester Medical Group (WMG) will be an entirely smoke-free/tobacco free campus by Independence Day, July 4, 2009, it was announced today by Dr. Simeon Schwartz, WMG president and Dr. Barney Newman, WMG medical director.

“As a leading health-care provider in the region, we continually see the worst effects of smoking-–respiratory and cardiac illnesses, strokes, heart attacks, and death,” said Dr. Newman. “By eliminating smoking on our campus, we are setting a strong example of good health.”

Smoking-related illnesses claim the lives of 25,500 adult New Yorkers every year. Further, smoking is directly responsible for approximately 90 percent of lung cancer deaths and approximately 80-90 percent of emphysema and chronic bronchitis deaths, the American Lung Association says. In fact, cigarette smoke has been classified as a Group A carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, because it contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer.

Alarmingly, the annual health-care costs in New York directly caused by smoking total $8.17 billion, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

A contributing factor to these costs is secondhand smoke, smoke from the burning end of a cigarette. Dr. Newman explained that it can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, severe asthma, ear infections, heart disease and even lung cancer. “For all of these reasons, WMG is committed to providing a clean air environment for everyone who enters the facility,” he said.

“To help patients, WMG staff, their family members, and community members kick the habit, The Westchester Medical Group is partnering with Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester to offer a smoking cessation program beginning next month,” said Dr. Simeon Schwartz, president of The Westchester Medical Group.

The seven-week program will be held starting Tuesday, May 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at WMG’s offices at 210 Westchester Avenue. Sessions will be facilitated by Sara Oppenheim, CHt, the Tobacco Cessation Specialist for the Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester, who leads smoking cessation programs for a variety of organizations in the tri-state area. The other six classes will be held on May 26, June 2, June 9, June 15, June 23, and June 30. To register, call (914) 681-3101. The cost is $140 for community members and patients, which must be paid by May 1st. The fee includes a CD and materials.

The Westchester Medical Group is a rapidly growing physician-owned and managed multi-specialty group practice. It is staffed by a team of over 150 physicians dedicated to providing coordinated, efficient, quality care in central and lower Westchester County. It has locations in White Plains, Purchase, Rye, Scarsdale, Eastchester, Larchmont, and Yonkers. The practice is widely known for its effective integration of high-efficiency business practices and cutting-edge technologies to continually improve health care delivery to Westchester residents.