It’s possible to stop smoking!
Bathurst, April 5 2019 – Vitalité Health Network invites people who would like to stop smoking to take part in a new project that offers free comprehensive nicotine replacement therapy treatments (patches and gums) to those without insurance coverage.
The project, conducted in collaboration with Vitalité Health Network’s primary health care team and Johnson & Johnson Inc.’s Health Care Strategic Partnership Team – Smoking Cessation, was launched on February 11.
According to Gilles Lanteigne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vitalité Health Network, this initiative is in line with our engagement to the public and ensures its participation in initiatives intended to improve its wellness. “The Network’s $30,000 investment in this project will make it possible to purchase nicotine patches, gums and lozenges that will be distributed to patients without insurance coverage. We would also like to thank Johnson & Johnson for their contribution in the form of nicotine replacement products. The objective of this project is to demonstrate the benefits of nicotine replacement therapy coverage in providing care to the entire population in the future.”
For over 130 years, Johnson & Johnson has been striving to maintain all people healthy, regardless of their age or stage of life. The 130,000 or so employees of the world’s largest health care company work at improving access and costs, creating healthier communities and ensuring that everyone, no matter where they are, can enjoy a healthy mind, body and environment.
Four nurse practitioners in all four Network zones will refer those interested to the smoking cessation counsellor in their area for follow-up and consultation. Registration deadline is June 15, 2019.
We hope that approximately 80 patients will take advantage of this project which represents a one-year treatment. A research project will also be conducted to determine whether patient benefitting from a structured follow-up with a health professional and a paid treatment have a better success rate in terms of smoking cessation. For the duration of the project, patients must be able to go to the nurse practitioner’s office and must therefore reside in the identified region.
Those who would like to be a part of this project can call their nearest Smoking Cessation Clinic to schedule an appointment:
- Lamèque: 506-344-3538
- Grand Falls: 506-473-7686
- Cocagne / Dieppe: 506-869-2446
- Dalhousie: 506-684-7727
