Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital has taken an important step toward clearing the air. The hospital’s campus — which includes the physician offices near the hospital and the surrounding grounds — became a smoke and tobacco-free environment, effective September 8.
“The policy reinforces our vision to create the ideal healthcare environment to surpass expectations,” said Roger Seaver, president and CEO of Henry Mayo. “Smoking is a major health risk factor. We’re encouraging healthy behavior and reducing the risks associated with exposure to second-hand smoke.”
Although steadfast in their commitment to a tobacco-free environment, hospital officials recognize that some staff, patients, volunteers and visitors do smoke. They understand that nicotine is highly addictive and quitting can be extremely difficult.
For patients who smoke, doctors can order a nicotine patch on admission. The patch, which releases nicotine through the skin, will ease cravings during a hospital stay.
Employees are being offered free enrollment in the hospital’s tobacco cessation program, which is tailored specifically for the needs of each individual, including behavior modification to help minimize smoking urges and numerous coping strategies.
“As a healthcare organization, it’s time for us to take a stand for the health of our community,” added Seaver. “This policy is the right thing for us to do.”
The new policy does not require that anyone permanently quit smoking, it simply prohibits tobacco use on the hospital campus.
The tobacco-free policy will apply to the hospital and its exterior grounds (including sidewalks and parking areas), the Ambulatory Care Center, the Foundation Building and medical office buildings. All employees, physicians (and their office staff), patients, visitors and volunteers will not be permitted to smoke anywhere on Henry Mayo’s campus.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans die from disorders directly related to smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the estimated annual number of smoking-attributable deaths in the United States during 2000 through 2004 by specific causes, are as follows:
• Lung cancer: 128,900 deaths
• Other cancers: 35,300 deaths
• Ischemic Heart Disease: 126,000 deaths
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: 92,900 deaths
• Stroke: 15,900 deaths
• Other diagnoses: 44,000 deaths
Henry Mayo’s tobacco cessation program has been in existence and available to the community since 2004. Each participant is individually assessed and treated privately by a trained program counselor with a goal of becoming tobacco free. Several different methods for changing smoking behavior are explored so that individuals can find approaches that work best for them, and a combination of medication and counseling is used to help improve the rate of success.
For more information or to enroll in Henry Mayo’s Tobacco Cessation program, please call 661-253-8177.