CJW Medical Center to stub out all tobacco products

Lisa Billings/Chesterfield Observer Timothy Smith, a patient at CJW Medical Center, enjoys a cigarette before entering the hospital at the Johnston-Willis campus. When asked about CJW Medical's recent decision to ban all tobacco products from its campuses, Smith questioned, "For those that don't smoke, I guess it's a good thing, but how are they going to stop people from doing what they want to do, like smoking in their vehicles?"

Smokers will have one less place to light up when CJW Medical Center bans all tobacco products from its campuses this fall. Effective Nov. 20 in conjunction with the Great American Smoke Out, the Johnston-Willis and Chippenham campuses will eliminate their outdoor smoking areas and ask employees, patients and guests to refrain from using cigarettes and other tobacco products while on hospital property.

"As a health-care organization, we have a commitment and an obligation to provide a healthy, tobacco-free environment," said Peter Marmerstein, CEO, CJW Medical Center. "This policy change supports our hospital's core mission of providing quality care and improving the health status of our community. We appreciate the support of our employees, physicians, patients, and community health advocates as we make this transition."

Signs (above) have been posted at CJW Medical Center's designated smoking areas, informing employees, f Lisa Billings/Chesterfield Observer patients and guests of the tobacco-free policy change.

Signs have already been posted at smoking areas, advising people of the upcoming change in hopes of smoothing the transition. "Come Nov. 20, we will not be walking around like the smoking police. We're not going to escort anyone off the property or anything like that. If someone started smoking, we would remind them of our policy and ask that they adhere to our policy," explained Kris Lukish, CJW Medical Center's human resources administrator.

"I think the families and patients will get accustomed to it," predicted Dr. Jamie Hey, a pulmonologist at CJW Medical Center. "It's not that common that people are spending a very prolonged amount of time [at the hospital]. I don't think most smokers as visitors are going to think this is a big imposition. There are lots of places that you can't smoke now. I don't see that it's going to be upsetting or an inappropriate request."

Some employees may have a harder time with the policy. As an incentive to break their smoking habit, employees are being offered discounts on cessation products through the hospitals' onsite Walgreens locations. Free smoking cessation counseling is also being provided.

"We are not requiring anyone to quit smoking. That is their personal choice to do so. We are just asking that they abide by the policy while they are here," explained Lukish.

Hey sees the change as a good opportunity for employees to finally quit smoking.

"This is a boost," said Hey. "There are people who are going to make this the time when they are going to stop smoking. You're giving people another incentive to stop."

The policy change will also eliminate the issue of guests and others having to inhale secondhand smoke as they walk in and out of the hospital. "We know that smoking causes illness in smokers, but we also know it causes illness in those around [the smoke]. Being exposed to such an inhalant around a hospital is not a good thing."

CJW Medical Center is the first hospital in metro Richmond to eliminate all tobacco products from its campuses. Most hospitals ban smoking inside their facilities but still allow smoking in designated areas outside.

However, at the national level, it's becoming more common for hospitals to ban all tobacco products from their properties. CJW Medical Center's parent company, HCA, has adopted policies banning tobacco products at several of its facilities.

"It is something that's happening more and more across the country, and I would anticipate that the movement will continue," said Lukish. "We're proud to be the first hospital in Richmond to do this."

There are no immediate plans, however, for HCA to eliminate smoking areas at its other metro Richmond hospitals.

The policy change is a gutsy one, given the region's long history with the tobacco industry. Philip Morris USA currently has its headquarters in Richmond.

"It's unique to be doing this in Richmond, given the culture and the businesses that are here, but at the same time, it's a great place to do it to show that it can be done," said Hey.