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Pender Memorial Hospital celebrates one year as tobacco-free campus
11/05/2008
On November 15, Pender Memorial Hospital will celebrate its first year as a tobacco-free campus. Since the Annual Great American Smokeout last year, the use of tobacco products on all hospital property has been banned.

'I think everybody has done well,' said Debbie Hardison, a PMH employee of 16 years. 'It's just like any other rule you have, no different than the dress code. You just follow the rules of the hospital.'

The tobacco-free policy applies to employees, patients, physicians, students, families, visitors, volunteers and all others who either visit or do business on any hospital-affiliated property, including Pender Health and Diagnostics in Rocky Point. It also applies to all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, herbal tobacco products and chewing tobacco.

Mrs. Hardison has been a smoker since the age of 13 and still smokes, but she has not had any problems abiding by the policy.

'It really has not bothered me. I have not quit smoking though I have really cut back since the policy has been in place,' she said. 'Rules are rules and I have never seen any employee here break the rule.'

Employees as well as patients and visitors are offered referrals to educational services, and nicotine patches and nicotine gum during their time at the hospital. Signage in multiple locations alerts patients and visitors to the rule. All perspective employees are informed of the policy before they are hired.

'I believe the policy reflects our responsibility as the largest health care provider in Pender County,' said Ken Johnson, chair of the board. 'We owe it to our patients and the community to lead the way to healthier behaviors and lifestyles. I would also like to commend the entire staff at PMH for embracing and taking ownership of the policy.'

In June of this year, Pender Memorial Hospital was recognized as a Tobacco-Free Trailblazer by NC Prevention Partners and the Healthy Hospital Initiative. The award was given for displaying industry leadership by protecting patients, visitors and employees from exposure to second-hand smoke.

'This process has been a success on several levels,' said David Long, PMH administrator, 'from our employees reminding patients and families about our new policies regarding tobacco use to our leaders ensuring that their departments clearly understand the reasons for our transition to a tobacco-free environment.'

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in North Carolina, with more than 450,000 individuals dying from smoking-related diseases each year. About 30 percent of all deaths from heart disease are directly related to smoking. Smoking costs the nation nearly $150 billion each year in health care and other expenses.

Second-hand smoke causes approximately 3,000 deaths a year among adult non-smokers and between 150,000 and 300,000 cases of respiratory infections among children younger than 18 months.

At the workplace, smokers incur 2.5 more sick days a year and 18 percent more in overall health costs than non-smokers.

'I am very pleased with the manner that our employees have embraced our transition to a tobacco-free campus,' said Long. 'I sincerely appreciate the collective dedication that each of our staff has provided out of this process.'

To learn more about Pender Memorial Hospital, please visit www.pendermemorial.org.

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