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Highlands Today

Hospital adopts tobacco-free policies

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

Highlands Regional Medical Center established a tobacco-free campus in 2006 and as of July 1, 2010, Florida Hospital in Sebring, Wauchula and Lake Placid will be tobacco free.

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By BILL ROGERS Highlands Today

Published: November 29, 2009

SEBRING - It is perhaps a mixed message or a contradiction for health care workers who willfully do something that is likely to endanger their health such as smoking.

The grim statistics from the Highlands County Health Department bear that out: each year 29,000 Floridians die from smoking-related causes; 88 people die every day in Florida, 81 directly from cigarettes and seven from smoking-related causes such as second-hand smoke or complications due to tobacco use; annually tobacco kills approximately 5.4 million people worldwide.

"It's hard to talk about being healthy when you're a smoker and you smell like smoke," said Sara Rosenbaum, health education coordinator at Florida Hospital Heartland Division.

Florida Hospital, which is one of the largest employers in the area with approximately 1,200 workers, is going to try to do its part to establish a completely healthy environment for employees, visitors and others.

As of July 1, 2010, Florida Hospital in Sebring, Wauchula and Lake Placid will be tobacco free. No one will be allowed to smoke or use tobacco products on the grounds, including the parking lot, as well as at neighboring businesses. The policy applies to property that is owned or leased by the hospital such as Seascape Imaging.

In a letter to staff, physicians, board members and volunteers from Tim Cook, president and CEO, said: "As part of an Adventist Health System-wide initiative, all hospitals will become tobacco-free campuses to deliver the message that our organization cares about keeping people healthy. Implementation of a tobacco-free campus presents us with the opportunity to help end the reliance on a substance proven to be detrimental to those who smoke and are exposed to smoke as well as dependence on tobacco products that cause irreparable and life-threatening harm."

Isaac Palmer, vice president/COO at the hospital, said patients and visitors have been asking to adopt the policy.

"Our stated goal is not that everyone stop smoking," Palmer said. "But if that could happen, if one or two or 10 or 12 could actually quit smoking, we would love for that to happen."

Palmer noted that some of the details of the program still have to be worked out. Hospital officials don't know the exact percentage of their employees that smoke.

In Highlands County, as of 2007, 15 percent of those 21 and over identified themselves as smokers, according to Derek Carlton, tobacco prevention supervisor for the Highlands County Health Department. The percentage statewide was 19. Carlton noted that the percentages are based on a sampling of people and could be higher or lower.

Some employees who were smoking in the small screened area outside the hospital Tuesday declined to comment about the policy. However, they did talk to Cathy Albritton, the hospital's director of marketing and public relations. Albritton said that just like the general population their responses varied.

"Some are skeptical about how the whole process will really work," Albritton said. "Some are looking forward to it because they know they want to quit because they want to save money and so they look at this as an opportunity to possibly save money. Some look at it as 'no way, I am going to smoke.'"

"Working for the health care industry, they all get it," Albritton added.

"We have to be examples," Rosenbaum said.

The hospital will begin tobacco cessation classes in January at the Sebring, Wauchula and Lake Placid campuses.

"We're going to give them every support that we can," said Albritton, noting there will be things given away in the classes as well as a party at the end of each class. "Their families will be included in these classes."

Rosenbaum will also be visiting with civic groups in early 2010 to educate them about the policy. She said smoking cessation classes will be offered to businesses in the community.

County receives grant

Highlands County has received a three-year grant for $140,000 per year that focuses on policy change.

"We look at policy change because by changing policy we change social norms," said Carlton of the health department.

The example he uses when he talks with people is when a person in Florida goes into a restaurant in the state it will be a smoke-free environment.

"When you go out of state it is not the norm," he said. "You go to Georgia or some of the states you can sit down and learn the smoking section is that table next to you. That is just not normal for us as Floridians now.

That is because the Clean Indoor Air Act made a new social norm," he added. "It wasn't right away. A policy got put in place then over the years it has just become normal for you to walk into a restaurant and it not be smoking."

One of the policies the department is working on is a county ordinance that prohibits the free sampling of tobacco products. Another is an ordinance prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products.

Carlton also said he is planning to work with some of the larger employers locally to get their facilities to become tobacco free. One is South Florida Community College.

SFCC adheres to state law which prohibits smoking inside public buildings. The college hasn't made a policy decision on becoming a tobacco-free campus.

Deborah Bell, director of community relations and marketing at the college, said it hopes to become a smoke-free campus "but only if people choose to stop smoking."

Bell said a wellness committee is focusing on establishing a smoking cessation program for faculty, staff and students.

HRMC already tobacco free

Highlands Regional Medical Center established a tobacco-free campus in 2006.

It came about at the request of Bob Mahaffey, the hospital's CEO/administrator, according to Julie D'Amico, chief nursing officer. D'Amico said the Healthcare Management Associates hospital in Haines City made it a policy when Mahaffey was there.

Kim Moore, director of cardiopulmonary, organized the smoking cessation classes. She said the hospital provided nicotine replacement patches to the staff, set up a buddy system as a way of support and gave out sugar-free candy.

"It is one of the hardest things in the world to do," Moore said. "The problem is the craving."

Many people stop smoking and start again several times before quitting for good. According to a study by researchers at Boston University School of Dental Medicine, between 60 and 90 percent of smokers relapse within the first year of quitting.

D'Amico said it was difficult for some employees when the policy was announced. They smoke as a way to cope with stress and that was being taken away.

D'Amico noted that not only is a health issue involved but a safety issue as well because there are flammable materials in a hospital.

Highlands Regional will be starting a cessation class in January.

Tax increased cost

Lawmakers earlier this year added $1 a pack to the state cigarette tax to make $1.34 per pack. The change came close to the same time that Washington increased the federal cigarette tax by 62 cents.

Statewide, 620,600 fewer packs of cigarettes were sold in October than during the previous, pre-tax increase September - amounting to a statewide decline in sales of less than 1 percent, according to the News Service of Florida.

However, for the year, economists are predicting 932 million packs will be sold - a drop of 25 percent from 2008-09.

Bill Rogers may be reached at 863-386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com

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