COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does campus-wide tobacco free mean?

Smoking or tobacco use of any kind will not be permitted on any property owned or leased by Wamego City Hospital (WCH). The new policiy will include employees, physicians, contractors, visitors and patients.

Why is smoking being targeted versus other health risks?

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death, as well as preventable disease in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 440,000 people die prematurely each year from smoking related diseases. This is more than alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide , car crashes, fires and AIDS combined.

Smoking is a factor in heart disease, cancer, stroke and lung disease. Smoking costs the United States approximately $150 billion each year in healthcare and lost productivity.

Patients who smoke regularly before surgery have twice the risk of wound infections as non-smokers.

A smoker’s broken bones take almost twice as long to heal as a non-smoker’s. Many people are not aware how smoking impacts healthcare and recovery.

By making our environment smoke-free, we are addressing the number one health risk today.

Complaints from many visitors and patients regarding second-hand smoke at entrances and exits from the hospital. The complaints have particular notability for patients and/or family members of cancer patients, patients with lung disease and children.

A need to control outside courtyards in order to be in compliance with state regulation (fire marshal, others) and accreditation criteria.

A concern expressed by co-workers that a limited number of team members take an unreasonable number of breaks in order to smoke.

Recognition that WCH’s primary mission is to protect the health of those in our community while protecting and supporting a community culture of healthier living.

Won’t this policy just send the smokers to restrooms, stairwells and their cars?

While the potential exists, the hope is that all of our staff will embrace the efforts to sustain a healthier environment for patients, families and employees. The smell of smoke is a trigger for those trying to quit or remain smoke-free while they are here. It is our responsibility to help each other, our patients, and visitors in this process.

Given the stress that families face during hospitalization, how does this policy reflect our Mission, Vision and Values?

The majority of smokers, no matter their level of dependence, recognize that smoking at a hospital is counter productive to the health of our patients, our patients’ family members, community members and our employees. Most will comply with our policy, however we will train staff members in ways that they can gently confront visitors who fail to comply and help relieve stress by offering alternatives to smoking.

How are we educating patients, visitors and the public?

Between now and the policy’s effective date, we will crate and provide information and educational materials that will be distributed throughout our campus and on our website. We will work closely with physician offices to provide information to patients and their families. There will be more stories in the media. You will see signs at the perimeter of the campus and entrances. While we will make every effort to inform patient and their family members prior to ther admission, we can expect that many patients and their families will arrive unprepared for a hospitalization experience with no coping mechanisms. We are working with our physicians on ways to provide nicotine replacement therapy for our patients during their stay. We will also educate our staff members in ways to interact with patients and their family members who are having difficulty adhering to the policy.

Suppose I (employee) choose to quit?

Recognizing that smoking is an addiction is not always a choice. WCH is committed to providing help for employees who want to quit or help control their nicotine dependence while they are on campus.

What if I don’t quit?

Smoking on campus won’t be an option. WCH is not in the business of forcing people to quit smoking, but to assist those who want to quit or who want to control their dependence while they are here. You will need to find a way to deal with the addiction while you are here, or you will need to leave campus to smoke.

Given the nursing shortage, aren’t you afraid that many staff members will leave Wamego City Hospital, rather than stop smoking?

Some staff members may choose to seek other employment rather than adhere to the new policy. We have heard from the hospitals that have already adopted a tobacco-ree environment that the impact on their staffing has been minimal. People applying for positions at Wamego City Hospital will be told up-front that we have a campus-wide tobacco-free policy.

~Reprinted Adapted from mission Hospitals Scope, V(2004).