Geisinger Health System Announces Tobacco-Free Policy

DANVILLE, PA— Geisinger Health System will modify its current no smoking policy over the next several months, applying stringent standards and tobacco-cessation programs to achieve a total tobacco-free environment in all Geisinger-owned facilities by November 15, 2007.
 
“Geisinger is committed to improving the quality of life for patients, employees and the communities we serve,” said Glenn Steele, Jr., MD, PhD, president and chief executive officer of the health system. “To accomplish this mission, we must confront the nation’s greatest avoidable cause of death, disability and disease, which is smoking and tobacco use,” he added.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Health report that smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause disease and premature death not only among smokers but also among children and adults who do not smoke. In Pennsylvania, nearly 20,000 adults die each year from a smoking related illness, and medical spending attributed to smoking is approximately $5 billion per year.

Geisinger’s new tobacco-free policy will prohibit smoking and tobacco use by employees, patients and visitors outside as well as inside Geisinger-owned facilities, including hospitals, business and physician offices, common areas, sidewalks and parking lots. Designated outdoor smoking areas will be eliminated in phases between now and November.

“This transition will be a significant challenge for many tobacco users who visit and work at Geisinger,” said Bruce Hamory, MD, chief medical officer. “Tobacco use is addictive and breaking that pattern of behavior can be difficult,” he said, which is why Geisinger will implement the tobacco-free policy in stages, giving advance notice and follow-up reminders via announcements, signs, posters and other communications to patients, employees and visitors.

Tobacco-free initiatives are part of a growing national trend among increasing numbers of metropolitan centers and rural areas across the country. For individual well being as well as families’ peace of mind, the benefits of a tobacco-free environment are enormous, as are the savings in medical expenses.
 
To encourage and support employees as they make necessary changes to comply with the new tobacco-free policy, Geisinger will provide tobacco cessation programs and other resources through its employee wellness program. “This is a major undertaking to change behavior and improve the overall health of our community,” said Dr. Steele. “Many employers and municipalities across the country have already adopted tobacco-free policies, and we hope healthcare providers in Pennsylvania join this effort to build healthier lives in our region.”

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