Arroyo Grande Community Hospital is pleased to announce it will become a 100% tobacco-free facility as of July 1, 2009. This policy will apply to all patients, visitors, medical staff members, volunteers, vendors and employees at the main hospital campus at 345 South Halcyon Road in Arroyo Grande, as well as its affiliated health care facilities; the Coastal Cancer Care and Diagnostic Center and Coastal Surgical Institute both located at 921 Oak Park Boulevard in Pismo Beach. As of July 1, 2009, no tobacco use of any kind will be permitted inside hospital buildings, in the parking lots, on the grounds at any of its facilities.
Rick Castro, AGCH CEO and President says; “This tobacco-free policy is an effort that promotes the health and wellbeing of our patients, employees, physicians, volunteers, and community. That’s our top priority.” Arroyo Grande Community Hospital has always provided smoking cessation help to its employees and patients by offering nicotine patches, tips for successful quitting, and support group information and will continue to offer these services after July 1st.
An Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Tobacco-Free Campus Committee led by AGCH Risk Manager, Jackie Hertzog, RN, has helped in shaping this new policy. The committee is taking suggestions from employees, volunteers and physicians for alternatives to tobacco use while on campus. These suggestions and the continued involvement of the committee will help the facility make this change as easy as possible.
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. It is a major cause of several cancers, including lung. The Surgeon General has said second-hand smoke causes 35,000 – 45,000 deaths each year from heart disease and another 3,000 deaths from lung cancer in nonsmokers. The U.S. Surgeon General has added that second-hand smoke is a serious health hazard and should be banned in all work places. Nonsmokers who are exposed to second hand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30% and lung cancer by 20-30%.
For more information about the 100% tobacco-free policy at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, please contact Anna Scott, AGCH Media Relations and Communication Manager at (805) 473-7695.
