LPRH: TOBACCO FREE JANUARY 1, 2011

"It's The Right Thing To Do"
AshLine.org
Smokefreearizona@azdhs.gov



The Hospital has made a commitment to step up to the challenge of going Tobacco-Free and encouraging staff, visitors and patients to quit smoking. Our hospital leaders recognize that smoking does not fit into our mission of promoting good health. Tobacco products will be prohibited on any Hospital property starting January 1, 2011.

According to the American Cancer Society lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. In 2006, the citizens of Arizona made their voices heard by passing the Smoke-Free Arizona Act. The Act became law on May 1, 2007. The Law prohibits smoking inside and within 20 feet of entrances, open windows or ventilation systems of an establishment. Over 80% of Arizona hospitals are Smoke-Free facilities.

Smoking harms the health of smokers and those around them. Smokers are at far higher risks of strokes, heart attacks, and other cardio-vascular diseases; cancer of the lungs, mouth, larynx, bladder, pancreas, kidney and stomach, emphysema, bronchitis and tuberculosis. It is also a fact that smoke harms non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. Smoking among employees increases absenteeism, decreases productivity, increases ill health, and higher insurance premiums.

La Paz Regional Hospital recognizes that a smoke-free environment helps to create a safe, healthful facility. The promotion of quitting among youth and adults is an essential piece to help us focus on the reduction of disease, disability and death related to tobacco use. Hospital policy will prohibits smoking on the Hospital's campus and outlying clinics on January 1st. Employees and visitors must leave the Hospital's property in order to smoke. However, patients may not smoke at any point during their stay at the hospital. In order to ensure their stay is comfortable, the Hospital's Administration will recommend implementing standing orders, which nurses can easily initiate and physicians can then verify. that expedite the process of giving patients the nicotine patch or gum. In addition, employees and patients will be offered information on Arizona's ASHline (800-556-6222) Smoke Cessation Programs available to those who wish to quit. The ASHline is free, offers medication assistance, coaching in English and Spanish, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, the American Cancer Society also offers assistance on their website at www.cancer.org or at 800-227-2345.

To start the Tobacco-Free Campaign, the hospital held a T-Shirt Design/Slogan contest among our employees to create a design and slogan for the campaign. The winner was Davida Bauman. She was awarded a $25 gift certificate and the first t-shirt to be printed. The t-shirts are being printed by Missy and Linc Gilbert of Kiss N Makeup in Parker. The shirts will be sold for $10 each with the funds going to the Employee Crisis Fund.

The hospital understands this is a big task and hopes to make the transition without incident. Tobacco-Free signs will be placed throughout the Hospital and parking areas to remind visitors, employees and patients that LPRH is a Tobacco-Free facility. Staff will receive training on how to interact with patients, visitors and employees who smoke making them aware of the Hospital's policy of Tobacco-free and offering information on smoke-cessation programs available to smokers as noted above. Implementing a tobacco-free campus policy is an ambitious goal and we hope to have the support of the La Paz County Community.