Gallipolis, OH - Holzer Consolidated Health Systems (HCHS) and Holzer Clinic have announced their plans to become tobacco-free beginning July 1, 2007, according to Tom Tope, President and CEO of Holzer Consolidated Health Systems, and T. Wayne Munro, MD, President of Holzer Clinic. The new policy will affect all properties and entities throughout the region of both HCHS and Holzer Clinic.

On December 7, 2006, smoking became prohibited inside public areas across the State of Ohio due to the passing of Ohio Issue 5 on the November ballot, which prohibits smoking in public and work places through the Smoke Free Workplace Act. In addition to the restrictions established by the new Act, HCHS and Holzer Clinic will ban cigarette smoking and tobacco use on all property owned by both entities, including not only inside, but outside as well.

A Task Force, chaired by Ken Moore, Director of the Holzer Center for Cancer Care, and Bonnie McFarland, RN, BSN, Director of Community Health and Wellness at Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis, was established and included non-clinical and clinical employees from HCHS and Holzer Clinic, including a great deal of assistance and support from Michelle Rankin, RN, Employee Health Nurse at Holzer Clinic.

The Task Force met to discuss ways of implementing the Tobacco Free Campus Initiative, and reported their findings of why the new policy was important. Some of their findings included:

• 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco use.
• 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of all lung cancer deaths are related to tobacco use.
• Tobacco use costs $150 billion a year in healthcare and indirect costs.
• Secondhand smoke results in 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in non- smoking adults.
• Workers exposed to secondhand smoke are 34 percent more likely to contract lung cancer.
• Secondhand smoke contributes to respiratory infections in babies and children; childhood asthma, and throat and ear infections.
• Workplace smoking tobacco users have higher medical and dental care costs, in addition to higher disability costs and premature death.
• Tobacco use by employees creates excess absenteeism, health insurance claims and on average 35 minutes a day or 18.2 days per year loss in productivity for smoke or tobacco breaks.

The Task Force also reported that becoming a tobacco and smoke-free campus would promote both facility's mission statements, improve the health of inpatients and outpatients, set standards, improve image, save money, increase productivity, and change attitudes toward tobacco use in the community.

History shows that tobacco and smoke-free policies in hospitals began in the late 1970's and early 1980's with the elimination of tobacco products sales in hospitals, and the introduction of smoke-free wards. In 1978, only 42 percent of hospitals had any anti-smoking regulations and only 1.2 percent practiced a total smoking ban inside the building. Jumping forward to 1993 and a sign that times have changed, 95.6 percent of hospitals had smoke-free policies after the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standards were issued in 1991.

Holzer Consolidated Health Systems entities that will abide by the new policy include Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis; Holzer Medical Center in Jackson, Ohio; Holzer Senior Care Center; Holzer Assisted Living Facilities in Gallipolis and Jackson; HCHS Offices located at 2881 State Route 160 in Gallipolis; Dental Health Partners of Holzer Medical Center - Jackson, located at 190 Water Street in Jackson, Ohio; Jenkins Memorial Health Clinic of Holzer Medical Center - Jackson, located in Wellston, Ohio; Holzer Home Care Offices in Gallia, Jackson and Meigs Counties; and the Holzer Center for Cancer Care.

"Our Hospital Boards recognized not only the health-related issues associated with tobacco usage, but also the negative image it portrays to the community by allowing its use by employees and visitors on a healthcare facility property," commented Tope. "It was not an easy decision, but it is the correct one."

Holzer Clinic entities that will abide by the new policy include all practice facilities in Gallipolis (including the Main Branch and Sycamore Branch), Jackson, Athens, Point Pleasant, Meigs, Proctorville and South Charleston.

"Tobacco has been proven to be a major cause of illness and as healthcare providers, we would be remiss in not taking action to protect our employees and patients from this health threat," commented Munro.

Currently, HCHS and Holzer Clinic are encouraging their employees and the community and their employees to take advantage of free smoking and tobacco cessation classes that are currently being offered through the Hospital.

The Freedom From Smoking clinic, established by the American Lung Association, is currently offered locally through the Holzer Tobacco Prevention Center. Classes began in Gallia, Jackson and Meigs counties on January 8 and 9, and continue over an eight-week period. Those who are interested in attending these classes are still able to register up until the third session on January 29. For more information, please call (740) 446-5940.

Holzer Clinic… Medical Excellence, Local Caring.

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