by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
In an effort to provide healthy environments for its patients, visitors, physicians and employees, the campuses of Southern Tennessee Medical Center (STMC) in Winchester and Emerald-Hodgson Hospital (EHH) in Sewanee will become tobacco-free effective Nov. 21, 2013. Anyone on property owned or leased by STMC/EHH, including students, visitors, staff, patients, contracted workers and volunteers must refrain from using tobacco products.
“It’s time, probably past time,” said EHH administrator Ralph Underwood. The administrative team for STMC/EHH has talked about adopting a tobacco-free campus policy for four or five years. “Several of our sister hospitals have already done so,” Underwood said.
For EHH the boundaries of the campus include all outside entrance areas and the employee parking lot in the rear. The front parking lot is shared with physicians’ offices. Underwood hopes they will support the tobacco-free policy. University Health Service, located in the same building complex, is governed by the University policy. “Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited in all residential facilities and on balconies. Smoking is prohibited within 50 feet of buildings.”
The STMC/EHH Tobacco-Free Campus policy implementation coincides with the annual Great American Smokeout traditionally observed on the third Thursday of November. The event dates back to November 18, 1976, when the California Division of the American Cancer Society successfully prompted nearly one million smokers to quit for the day.
“As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to lead by example,” said Philip Young, chief executive officer of STMC/EHH.
STMC/EHH issued a public statement examining the reasons for the tobacco-free campus policy and offering help to individuals who wish to quit smoking: “As a healthcare institution, STMC/EHH sees firsthand the devastating effects of tobacco—from cancer and heart disease to asthma and emphysema. Tobacco usage slows the healing of wounds, increases infection rates after surgery and often causes poor birth outcomes. We understand that this policy may be difficult for tobacco users and have no intention of forcing anyone to quit. We are simply asking to please refrain from usage while on our campuses. We will be providing educational materials and resources as well as smoking cessation counseling to assist you if you choose to quit smoking.”
No comments:
Post a Comment