Time to Quit (Smoking)

Spectrum Health Holds Stop Smoking Class at Cancer Pavilion

As a follow-up to The Great American Smoke Out this week, Spectrum Health will hold a special class to help people stop smoking on Monday, November 19, at the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion in downtown Grand Rapids.

Libby Stern, MSW, an educator for Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, hopes to attract a large crowd for the QUIT 101 smoking cessation class. The class has been offered for the past year at various locations in the community. The class is free but registration is required.

“The class is appropriate for anyone wanting to quit smoking,” explained Stern, who has had primarily smokers, but also smokeless tobacco users, participate in the past. “The class is kind of a starting point for people. We focus on tips to quitting successfully, setting a quit date, developing a quit plan, getting support and resources and understanding the medications available to help them quit.”

Stern added that attendees leave the class with a smoking quit date and a start on their quit plan. “Ideally, the participant will then go to their health care provider to discuss and obtain the medication to help them stop smoking.”

Attendees learn how to access resources such as stop smoking websites, Nicotine Anonymous support groups or personal counseling. Stern follows up with her students via phone or email after the class.

“It has been good to see people learn some new strategies and have some success. As a former smoker myself, I know how challenging it can be to quit and how exciting it is to finally quit for good,” said Stern.

Interested participants can register for the free class by calling 616.267.2626, option 4, or toll free 877.495.2626, option 4.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 183 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 700 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,000 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.