SJHS Volunteers Weblog

health care providers that treat the onerous effects caused by tobacco use, the Collaborative members view it as their obligation and opportunity to ensure that no one is subject to the harmful effects of tobacco while on their health care campuses. The tobacco-free policy will apply to the providers’ hospitals, outpatient centers, medical office buildings, physician offices, urgent care centers, laboratories, classrooms, clinics, offices and other owned and leased facilities. This initiative will include the elimination of designated areas outside where employees, patients and visitors currently use tobacco products. The initiative is not an attempt to “force” anyone to quit using tobacco products; rather, a concrete way to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to healthy living. Members of the Collaborative have emphasized their leadership role in addressing the many negative effects caused by the use of tobacco products, Kentucky’s most preventable health problem. The state has the highest smoking rate in the United States at 29 percent, compared with the national average of 21 percent. Kentucky’s incidence and death rates for cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and other cancer-related diseases far exceed the national averages. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, more than 430,000 Americans – including 8,000 Kentuckians – die each year as a result of tobacco use, and secondhand smoke kills more than 50,000 nonsmokers each year. The Kentucky Hospital Association has been asked to serve as the project manager for the Collaborative and will assist the hospitals in the coordination of Collaborative planning and implementation. Also, to assist with this challenge, all participating health care providers are increasing efforts to help their employees, patients and community members reduce tobacco use through smoking cessation classes, nicotine-replacement therapy products, behavior modification drugs and other means. The Lexington health care organizations are part of a growing national trend for health care providers to maintain tobacco-free facilities and campuses.