Tobacco Products Use Banned in Hospitals, Montgomery

As it is known hospitals were built for to help all sick people. But as a lot of studies showed, smoking can harm the people’ health. So, smoking in such public places should not exist. This is the main cause why all hospitals in Montgomery accepted the non-tobacco use policy.

Baptist Health, Jackson Hospital and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital will announce in a conference at the Alabama Department of Public Health that the new legislation will be enforced on Jan. 1, 2011. The new anti-smoking bill will not allow the tobacco smoking on hospital property. The new ban will also include sidewalks, grounds and facilities.

The smoking ban, which by now is in place at approximately more than 40 hospitals in the state, will request to all employees, visitors and even patients to not smoke inside hospital.

The new measure is a main part of the hospitals’ overall act only to ameliorating patients and workers’ health. “The dangers of smoking cigarettes and tobacco use are known by everybody,” Don Henderson, Jackson Hospital president and CEO, declared.

“Our health-care opportunities are linked together for to take a more intensive position against the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.,” he added.

So, during the next six months, every health organization will develop its corresponding tobacco-free bill. Informative signage will be established, smoking cessation programs will be raised, and frequent notices to patients, visitors, employee and physicians will be dispensed.

“Evidently this is in line with our common task to improve the health of the whole community,” Linda Wade, CEO of HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Montgomery, explained.

“We expect and hope that the public we provide will join Baptist Health, Jackson Hospital and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in helping and supporting this enlarged commitment to community health,” added Russell Tyner, CEO of Baptist Health.