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Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South. Ochsner inspires healthier lives and stronger communities through our mission to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate.

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Check Symptoms
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Give Now
Pay a Bill

Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South. Ochsner inspires healthier lives and stronger communities through our mission to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate.

Learn More

About Ochsner

Mission & Vision

History

Regions

Annual Report

News & Media

Ochsner Health Network

Contact Us

Community Purpose in Action

Community Health Needs Assessment

Community Benefit Report

Serving Our Schools

Community Service and Partnerships

Outreach by Region

Calendar of Events

Health Resources

All Health Resources

Wellness Marketplace

To Your Health Blog

Golden Opportunity
Thank you for choosing Ochsner Health for your care. We are committed to making an ongoing difference in the health of our communities.

Learn More

I need to...

Check Symptoms Check Symptoms and Get Care

Find a Doctor

Find a Location

Schedule an Appt. Schedule an Appointment

Find a Specialty Find a Specialty or Treatment

Pay a Bill

Services & Resources

Patient Services

Visitor Policy

Billing and Financial Services

Insurance Information

International Patients Language and Translation Services

Share Your Story

Read Patient Stories

MyOchsner

About MyOchsner

How to Use MyOchsner

Patient Login

New Patient? Sign Up
Connect to care at Ochsner. Click on a featured specialty on the list or search for a specialty.

All Specialties

Featured Specialties

Primary Care (Internal Medicine)

Urgent Care Services

Connected Anywhere Virtual Visits

Women’s Health

Men's Health

Pediatrics

Digital Medicine

ER Locations

Pharmacy & Wellness

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health

Smoking Cessation Services

Heart & Vascular

Cancer Care

Neuroscience

Transplant Institute

Orthopedics

Sports Medicine

Therapy & Wellness

Optical Shops

Digestive Disorders

Urology
Ochsner is committed to a clinically-integrated research program with the ultimate goal of improving the health and wellness of our patients and communities. As the largest academic medical center in Louisiana, we are training the next generation of healthcare professionals to be leaders who can meet evolving healthcare challenges.

All Research All Education

Research

Clinical Research

Translational Research

Outcomes Research

Nursing Research

Research Opportunities

Investigator-Initiated Research Resources

BioDesign Lab

Ochsner-Xavier Institute for Health Equity and Research

Education

Browse All Programs

UQ-Ochsner Clinical School

Clinical Medical Education

Graduate Medical Education

Continuing Medical Education

Medical Library

Publishing
Discover Your Future At Ochsner! With unlimited growth potential, both professionally and personally, now is the time to start your future with Ochsner.

Visit Careers

Find the Career for You

Search Jobs

Career Paths

Non-Medical Professional

Management & Leadership

Fellowships, Internships & Residencies

Advanced Practice Providers

Medical Professionals
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Author

Joy Melerine

Tobacco Cessation Specialist Lead

Smoking Cessation

Posts By This Author

Ease anxiety for surgery

Prevention & Wellness

Mar 9, 2026

Does Smoking Really Affect Surgery?

Learn how nicotine impacts your surgery, the risks of smoking before a procedure and how quitting helps you heal faster and safely.

By Debra Taylor and Joy Melerine

Email envelope icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

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© Ochsner Health | Notice of Privacy Practices | Notice of Nondiscrimination and Accessibility | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

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