Mercy to begin new year without tobacco

Herald-Tribune

FORT SCOTT, Kan. --Mercy Health Center is going tobacco-free on Jan. 1. As of that date, no tobacco use of any kind will be permitted -- inside or outside -- on hospital property. This initiative also will include the elimination of designated areas outside Mercy Health Center where employees, patients and visitors currently use tobacco.

Prior to Jan. 1, external and internal signs will be posted, notifying the public of the change in policy. The smoking huts located outside the emergency department and the west entrance will also be removed.

Mercy has been tobacco-free inside the health center for a number of years, but this initiative expands the ban to all property and grounds. Mercy is joining 85 Kansas hospitals who signed pledges with the Kansas Hospital Association to become tobacco-free campus wide. Other properties to be included in the tobacco ban include Mercy Health Center Medical Plaza, along with its rural clinics located in Pleasanton and Arma.

"As a health care organization, we are committed to the health and safety of our employees and patients," said John Woodrich, president and CEO of Mercy Health System of Kansas. "We believe that we have a responsibility to take a leadership role on this major health issue, and allowing people to use tobacco products defeats this purpose," Woodrich added.

Tobacco is the cause of death for 3,800 Kansans every year and is the root cause of many illnesses and lost productivity. Tobacco use in and around hospitals poses health and safety risks for patients, employees and visitors.

Hospital officials said Mercy's decision to go tobacco-free is not an attempt to "force" anyone to quit using tobacco products. Rather, the tobacco-free initiative is a concrete way to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to healthy living.

"We are asking for community support in Mercy's tobacco-free initiative as we move toward Jan. 1," said Woodrich.