Contact: Debra Thompson
Assoc. Director, PR & Communications
540-564-5886 

 

 

 

In keeping with its commitment to support a healthy community, RMH will become a tobacco-free campus on January 1, 2008.

 

As of that date, the use of any form of tobacco at any RMH location by employees, medical staff, volunteers, patients and visitors will be prohibited. 

 

“As a hospital, we are concerned about the health of both individuals and our community. One way we can help improve community health is to discourage use of tobacco products on RMH property,” said Kim Stanchfield, Employee Health Manager and co-chair of the Tobacco Task Force.

 

Stanchfield said that the hospital’s move in this direction is part of a national trend for healthcare facilities to go tobacco-free.

 

In 2005, RMH formed a tobacco task force made up of tobacco users and non-users who represented onsite, offsite and clinical employees of RMH. The taskforce was charged with developing a tobacco-free campus policy, implementing the policy, and organizing education and assistance programs for employees, patients and visitors. 

 

“We’ve been working toward making the transition to a tobacco-free campus as smooth as possible for our patients and our employees,” explained Jennifer Johnson, coordinator for the RMH LIFE Recovery Program and co-chair of the Tobacco Task Force. “Employees are being educated on how to best assist patients who use tobacco products.”

 

She noted that nicotine replacement therapy can be made available to patients through a physician’s order. Over-the-counter options, such as the nicotine patch, also will be available for purchase in the RMH Outpatient Pharmacy.

 

RMH offers support services and cessation programs for those who want to quit tobacco use. To get a free brochure of these programs, call RMH HealthSource at 800-433-4580.

 

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