ALTUS -- The Jackson County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees approved a change in the tobacco policy for the hospital campus and its related entities. Effective July 1, a No-Tobacco policy will be implemented. The approval came at the April 25 meeting of the JCMH Trust Authority.
The new policy applies to all JCMH employees, physicians, patients, volunteers, visitors, vendors, and the general public. It includes all buildings and properties owned or leased by JCMH or affiliates of JCMH. Tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco will be prohibited.
According to JCMH Chief Executive Officer Bill Wilson, "it's the right time to make the change to a tobacco free environment on the hospital campus. We've had in place a policy that limited the places on the campus where individuals could use tobacco. Now we've extended that to a no-tobacco, no-tolerance policy."
The hospital will install signage instructing patients and visitors about the no tobacco policy. JCMH employees are encouraged to remind visitors who are seen using tobacco that the JCMH campus is tobacco free.
Hospital employees will be restricted from using tobacco while on the job and while on the hospital campus. The hospital's Education Department has made available smoking cessation classes for employees and immediate family members wanting to kick the habit. The hospital will also make available prescription stop-smoking aids for employees.
"We want the whole community to know in advance the change in our tobacco policy," said Wilson. "We're focusing on prevention and healthy lifestyles."
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