Tobacco Free Initiative

Mid-Michigan Healthcare Organizations Partner To Become Smoke Free

Nine Mid-Michigan Hospitals are announcing plans for all of their campus properties to become smoke free on January 1, 2008. Carson City Hospital, Clinton Memorial Hospital, Eaton Rapids Medical Center, Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, Ionia County Memorial Hospital, Ingham Regional Medical Center, Memorial Healthcare Center, Sheridan Community Hospital, and Sparrow Health System are all initiating programs to become totally smoke free by that date.

Each of these organizations, as an important part of their mission, have a desire to improve the health and well-being of those living in the mid-Michigan communities. Through the establishment of smoke free campuses/properties, mid-Michigan Hospitals are actively demonstrating their commitment to public health.

While each organization’s healthcare facilities have been smoke free for years, smoking had been permitted in designated outdoor smoking areas on their campuses.  By January 1, 2008, smoking will no longer be permitted anywhere on each of the organization’s property.

Going smoke free will improve the environment for patients, family members, employees, physicians, volunteers, and all those who come to our facilities.  While all agree that this is a difficult issue, becoming smoke free is the most effective way for each organization to provide the very best environment for all individuals.

Each organization will support their employees, physicians and volunteers as well as patients and visitors who wish to quit smoking through smoking cessation classes and nicotine replacement therapy.

Historically, smoking rates in Michigan have been among the highest in the U.S.  One in four Michigan adults is a smoker and annually nearly 30,000 Michigan children under the age of 18 begin smoking.  According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, the direct medical costs attributable to smoking are nearly $2.65 billion annually.

According to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), 37 of Michigan’s 145 hospitals have officially established smoke free campuses.  MHA is encouraging all healthcare organizations in the state to do likewise and support efforts to ban smoking in public places by January 1, 2008.

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