Smoke-Free Hospital Campus

[Scott Crespy]

There is a growing interest among hospitals across the United States and New York State to extend the scope of hospital indoor smoking policies to include the entire hospital campus.

On May 26, 2004, Rich Hoffman, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Heart Institute, Arnot Ogden Hospital, discussed the processes his hospital took to develop and implement a smoke-free hospital campus.

http://jeny.ipro.org/files/crespy/80RealHoffmanImage.jpg (rtsp://webstage.ipro.org/smoking-cessation/hoffman/realhoffmanv1.smil) Rich Hoffman, "The Development of a Smoke-Free Hospital Campus." (rtsp://webstage.ipro.org/smoking-cessation/hoffman/realhoffmanv1.smil)

This 13-minute multi-media presentation can be viewed using RealMedia software. A free version of the RealPlayer can be downloaded if it is not already on your computer - Downloading Instructions (http://jeny.ipro.org/showthread.php?p=303#post303).
In his presentation, Rich Hoffman references the New York State "Clean Indoor Air Act." For your convenience, a link to this act is included below.

http://jeny.ipro.org/files/crespy/80CleanAirAct.jpg (http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/clean_indoor_air_act/ciaalaw.htm) New York State "Clean Indoor Air Act." (http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/clean_indoor_air_act/ciaalaw.htm)

National News

http://jeny.ipro.org/files/crespy/50newnewsman.jpg Just in October (2004) alone there were four News stories about hospitals that have implemented a smoke-free campus policy:

Good Samaritan No Smoking (http://www.wthitv.com/newsdet.asp?id=6886&section=2) (10/25/04, CBS News - Terre Haute, IN)
Hospital to put smoking to rest (http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/KINGMANDAILYMINER/sites/KINGMANDAILYMINER/1147edition/myarticles1027840.asp?P=1027840&S=393&PubID=13244) (10/22/04, Kingman Daily Miner, Arizona) - Tobacco Free Policy (http://www.azkrmc.com/nosmoke/TobaccoFreeCampus.pdf)
Inland pronounces campus to be smoke-free (http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/1030783.shtml) (10/2/04, Morning Sentinel, Maine)
Hospital, clinic go smoke-free (http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2004/10/01/news/news02.txt) (10/1/04, The Garden Island, Hawaii)
A great opportunity exists for us to learn from each other about developing a smoke-free hospital campus. Please share your thoughts, efforts and feedback regarding this topic by posting a reply to this message!

Scott Crespy, PhD
Smoking Cessation Project Manager

[Michael Seserman]

Here are some actual and sample hospital smoking policies.

[Scott Crespy]

Here is a News update on the growing list of hospitals that are transitioning to a smoke-free campus. Please post and share your hospital's experience with going to a smoke-free campus.

http://jeny.ipro.org/files/crespy/50newnewsman.jpg

Milford Regional goes smoke free in 2005 (http://www.milforddailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=61147) (12/8/04, Milford Daily News)
St. Francis Smoke Free (http://www.kq2.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=1335) (11/18/04, KQT News, Missouri)
Unity Health Center goes tobacco-free (http://www.news-star.com/stories/111804/New_35.shtml) (11/18/04, News-Star, Oklahoma)
No ifs, ands or butts; smoking forbidden on area hospital grounds (http://baraboo.scwn.com/articles/2004/11/15/news/news2.txt) (11/15/04, Baraboo News Republic)
Hospital going cold-turkey (http://www.lowcountrynow.com/stories/111704/LOCsmokefree.shtml) (11/17/04, Low Country Now)
Angel Hospital snuffs out smoking on campus (http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/11_04/11_24_04/fr_angel_hospital.html) (11/24/04, Smoky Mountain News)
Southwest Georgia Hospitals Extend Smokefree Areas (http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/georgia/news-article.aspx?storyid=28031) (11/19/04, First Coast News)
Smoking banned from Albany hospitals (http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=2585578&nav=5kZQTK24) (11/18/04, WALB-TV News, Albany-Georgia)
Region trying to snuff out tobacco use (http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2004/11/18/local/doc419ca15a038cc508181838.txt)(11/18/04, The Southern, Illinois)
New hospital will stub out smoking (http://www.lowcountrynow.com/stories/112804/LOChospital.shtml) (11/28/04, Low Country Now, Carolina)

[Scott Crespy]

I found it to be enlightening to read a news article by Jerry Lynott, from TimesLeader.com, about how smokers' feel and cope with smoke-free work places.

Just butt out: (http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/10476190.htm)Where to smoke becomes challenge (http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/10476190.htm) (12/26/04, TimesLeader.com)

But what happens in the cases where smoking is completely banned and smoke-huts are taken down, such as in case like Scott & White Hospital?

Scott & White bans smoking at all locations (http://www.kcentv.com/news/c-article.php?cid=1&nid=5990) (12/27/04, KCEN-TV NBC News, Central Texas; Video Available)

I welcome your thoughts and reactions. Thanks.

Scott Crespy