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Daily Bread
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
Proverbs 16:16
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Memphis, Tenn., May 1, 2007 - Memphis-area hospitals announced they will jointly introduce a new policy establishing all participating hospital campuses as completely tobacco-free zones. The policy will prohibit the use of all tobacco products on any hospital property, including parking areas and previously designated external smoking sites.
The November 15th start date for this initiative was selected to coincide with the Great American Smokeout®, an annual event sponsored nationally by the American Cancer Society since 1977. The announcement is being made now to give people plenty of time to prepare.
Hospital building interiors have been smoke-free since 1991, as required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. This latest action by participating hospitals and health care facilities extends the boundaries of the smoke-free environment.
“As health care providers, we have an obligation to be role models for good health to the communities we serve,” said Michael Lachina, M.D., chief medical officer for Saint Francis Hospital. “We feel an obligation to the community to promote and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.”
This initiative will affect employees, physicians, patients, volunteers and visitors. Hospitals plan to provide as much support as possible to everyone involved. Some hospitals will offer smoking cessation classes, quitlines staffed by masters-level counselors, or free nicotine replacement therapy.
Participating hospitals include all Baptist Memorial Health Care facilities, Delta Medical Center, The MED, the Memphis Mental Health Institute, Saint Francis Healthcare, all Memphis-area facilities in the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system, including Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will designate its hospital campus as smoke-free. The VA Hospital has participated in the planning process, is very supportive of this change and may join the initiative at a later date.
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