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In 2004, SSM Health Care became the largest health-care system to date to go tobacco free when its facilities in four states eliminated tobacco use – both inside and out. 
SSM’s move to go tobacco-free was praised by then U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona and health-care organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association. Hospitals in Missouri and Oklahoma followed SSM’s lead.
The conversion to a smoke-free environment involved developing materials for patients and visitors about the initiative; developing physician protocols for patients who smoke; reimbursing employees for smoking cessation classes; and offering smoking-cessation pharmaceutical benefits to employees covered by an SSM medical plan. SSM offers employees who declare they are tobacco-free a taxable $60 reimbursement annually provided they are participants in SSM's health-care medical plans.
“As a health care organization, we firmly believe that we must offer the healthiest environment possible for our patients, employees and visitors,” Sister Mary Jean Ryan, FSM, SSM Health Care President/CEO said in announcing the initiative.
Though the number of community resources has grown, SSM entities continue to emphasize the health benefits of not smoking:
SSM St. Mary's Health Center (St. Louis area) Patients receive a booklet at admission entitled "Breathe Easier," which explains the hospital's smoke-free policy and list a number to call about a cessation class: (314) SSM-DOCS or (866) SSM-DOCS.
St. Mary's Hospital (Madison, Wis.)
St. Anthony Hospital (Oklahoma City): St Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City offers eight-week "Freedom from Smoking" sessions. For information, call (405) 231-8866.
St. Clare Hospital and Health Services (Baraboo, Wis.): Support group resources
SSM St. Joseph Health Center (St. Charles, Mo.) |