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Sheridan Community Hospital Goes Smoke Free

Updated: December 21, 2007

With the new year comes new resolutions

Sheridan Community Hospital and Carson City Hospital are two of eight Mid-Michigan hospitals that announced plans earlier this year for all of their properties to become tobacco-free as of January 1, 2008. The other six hospitals are Ingham Regional Medical Center, Sparrow Health System, Eaton Rapids Medical Center, Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, Clinton Memorial Hospital, and Memorial Healthcare Center.

While each organization's health-care facilities have been smoke-free for years, smoking has been permitted on each campus in designated outdoor smoking areas. These areas will no longer be available after January 1.

“Going tobacco-free will improve the environment for patients, family members, employees, physicians, volunteers, and all those who come to our facilities,” said Bruce L. Traverse, President and CEO of Carson City Hospital. “With the focus on New Year's resolutions, the beginning of the new year is the perfect time to embrace this health-enhancing measure.”

Each hospital will continue to support employees who wish to quit smoking by offering free smoking cessation classes. Patients will have Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) options available to them, including nicotine gum and patches. Visitors may also utilize NRT options while on hospital properties.

“While all agree that this is a difficult issue, becoming tobacco-free is the most effective way for each organization to provide the very best environment for everyone,” said Kevin J. Cawley, Chief Executive Officer of Sheridan Community Hospital.

Historically, smoking rates in Michigan have been among the highest in the U.S. One in four adults is a smoker and, nearly 30,000 children under the age of 18 begin smoking annually. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, the direct medical costs attributable to smoking are nearly $2.65 billion a year.

According to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), 37 of Michigan's 145 hospitals have officially established tobacco-free campuses. MHA has been encouraging all health-care organizations in the state to do likewise and to support efforts to ban smoking in public places by January 1, 2008.

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