Waukegan,
Ill., 1/2/07--Vista
Health System is going tobacco free. Vista
implemented the new institution-wide smoke
free policy beginning January 1, 2007. This
new policy bans tobacco use on the campuses
of all Vista Health System facilities.
"Our
decision to go tobacco free is the best direction
for our employees and our patients,"
stated Barbara Martin, Chief Executive Officer
for Vista Health System. "However, we
are sensitive to the challenges a tobacco
free environment presents to employees and
patients who use tobacco."
Vista
began developing its plans for a tobacco free
campus over a year ago. Throughout the process,
input was solicited from physicians, nurses
and hospital staff. Vista is also offering
smoking cessation classes for employees who
want to quit. In fact, more than two dozen
employees have already given up the nicotine
habit since the tobacco free plan was announced.
Additionally, resources will be made available
to the community for those people who want
to quit smoking.
Tobacco
use is the number one cause of preventable
death and disease in the United States. It
fills hospitals in this country every day
with sick patients.
According to the American Cancer Society:
- 400,000
people die each year from tobacco-caused
diseases.
- Smoking
makes lung cancer the #1 cancer killer of
American men and women.
- Smoking
is the cause of about 30% of all cancer
deaths, and 87% of lung cancer cases overall.
- Smoking-attributable
direct health care costs in the U.S. equal
$75.5 billion.
Vista
Health System’s new policy will include
employees, clinicians, visitors and patients.
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