THE ICHIGAN CITIZEN
Smoke-free pol icy slated for hospitals
(
ccording to the United
State Surgeon General' offlce,
smo ing is the most preventable
cau of illne and death in
the United State. It also i the
leading c use of hospital fires,
And, cording to a recent
national poll, it' a source of
frustration to the 8 out of
every 10 smoker who want to
quit the habit.
ercy- emori edical
Center, Inc. of St. J 0 ph and
B nton Harbor i committed to
the promotion of health, and
ha a respon ibility to insure
a smo e-free environment for
employee and gue There­
fore revi d Smokin Policy
ill take effect on Thursday,
ovember 20,1986. The policy
wa endor d by ercy-
emorial's edical Staff and
pproved by the Board of
Tru tee at the eptember meet­
ing.
Introduction of the smoke­
free poli y i planned in con­
junction with the Ameri an Can­
cer ociety' Great American
mo e Out.
ccording to Larry Ulery ,
coordin tor of Healthwave:
ellne Opportunitie an em-
ploy c mmittee of sm er
d non-smoker helped to
uthor the revi d poll y in
spon to a rvey of ercy­
emorial employee. The sur­
vey revealed that 86% of the
r pondant favored greater re-
tri tion on smo in .
The revi d poll y al re-
flect the re triction set forth
in i higan' Clean Air Act,
which wa recently signed into
law. Thi law ate that, be­
ginn in January 1, 1987,
ci arette , cigar and pip smok­
in ill be prohibited except
in design ted smoking areas
in ho itals, courts municipal
building and other buildings
hi h fall within the law's
definition of a public pl ceo
According to ercy-
emorial revi d smoking
policy vi 'tor may smoke only
in the con; e shop and other
designated area at the edical
Center in St. Joseph and the
ercy Hospital Division in Ben­
ton Harbor. Smo ing by
visitor is prohibited in ali
other ho pital area including
pati nt room
P tient may smoke if they
have the written permi ion of
their phy ician and they are in
private room or in a room
ared by other smoker .
Ulery pointed out that
ercy- emorial employees are
al expected to "toe the line"
in ere tin smo e-free hos­
pit environment.
of ovember 20, smok­
in will not be permitted in
work area including private
office and me ting room .,
he id. ' e recognize, how­
ever, the preference of me
empl yee to smo e. There­
fore, limited smoking are have
been e tablished where smoking
ill not cau the di omfort
of other or endanger life or
property. "
Several "Fresh Air" smoking
ce tion class series will begin
on ovember 20. "The ries
i de igned to help smokers
kick the habit permanently,
with a minimum of di om-
fort," he said.
Anyon wanting more infor­
mation on Mercy-Memorial's
Poli y, or CIa call Larry Ulery
at the Education Department
at 926-5297.
5
At a time like his,
you shouldn't have .to worry
about the cost of living.
Sirens. Flashing lights. A floor -pacing
vigil You just want the best care for the
person you love. You don't worry about
how much it costs.
And you don't have to.
At Mercy-Memorial Medical Center,
you will find the best care. .. at one of the
lowest patient rates in southwestern
Michigan.
Yoo'D find physicians with major-medical­
center credentials. Who provide
angioplasty, streptokinase, cardiac
surgery, neurosurgery, radiation therapy
chemotherapy - aD the most up-to-
date treatments. Right here, close
to home.
So if a medical crisis strikes your family
you'll be relieved to know outstanding
health care for the lowest possible cost is
just down the street
ERCY· ORIAL
Medical Center In .
,(
s Joseph. Ben on Harbor
