Brazosport Regional Health System
Expands Tobacco-Free Policy
To coincide with February’s National Cancer Prevention Month, Brazosport Regional Health System announces plans to extend the current tobacco-free hospital policy to include all outside grounds of properties owned by the Health System. Effective February 1, 2010, the extended policy applies to all employees, medical staff, volunteers, patients and visitors.
Banning smoking entirely from hospital campuses is becoming a fast-growing trend nationally. A new study from The Joint Commission projects that a majority of U.S. hospitals will have a smoke-free campus by the end of 2009. Hospital leaders are now emphasizing that smoking does not fit into their missions of promoting good health.
As healthcare leaders in the community, Brazosport Regional’s goal is to reduce high rates of tobacco-related diseases, provide a healthy workplace environment, and encourage positive health behaviors. Patients who use tobacco products before and after a surgical procedure can compromise the quality of the surgery as well as result in increased infection rates and weaken immune systems. In fact, a study found that patients who smoked regularly before surgery had twice the rate of wound infections as nonsmokers.
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking cigarettes kills more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined. In addition, cigarette smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and is responsible for 9 out of 10 lung cancer deaths. “Smoking is a health hazard, which is why hospitals across the country, including Brazosport Regional, are working to encourage patients to adopt healthier tobacco-free lifestyles,” remarked Dr. Adam Corley, Chief of Staff at Brazosport Regional. “Tobacco-free initiatives have the potential to improve the health of thousands, reduce healthcare costs, and generally contribute to community health improvement.”
While you’re a patient or visitor at the health system, medical professionals can suggest ways to ease nicotine withdrawal symptoms. And if you are ready to quit, Brazosport Regional has trained professionals and community partners who can help you. In addition, the health system will be creating a smoking cessation class as well as host a tobacco-free support group for those who are addicted to tobacco.
A tobacco-free campus will provide a healthier environment for employees, visitors and patients, and will underscore Brazosport Regional’s commitment to improve the health and well-being of the local community.
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