Tobacco Free Campus

Tobacco Free Campus at Independence Health System

This policy applies to patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, volunteers, students and all others associated with Independence Health System (IHS). It is the policy of IHS that smoking and the use of all tobacco products are prohibited on all campus sites and properties owned and/or leased by IHS. This includes all grounds of Butler Memorial Hospital, Clarion Hospital, Frick Hospital, Latrobe Hospital, and Westmoreland Hospital, as well as all Independence Health System locations, practices, parking lots, personal vehicles and other properties. In addition, tobacco products will not be sold within the hospitals.

Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of this policy is to create a safe and healthy environment for Independence Health System’s patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, volunteers, students and all others by prohibiting the use of all tobacco products on all Independence Health System’s campuses, and sites/properties. Age specific considerations are not applicable.

Definitions

Independence Health System property includes:

• Any IHS owned or leased buildings/properties on any IHS campus
• All grounds and any parking lots that are owned by IHS

Tobacco products covered by the policy include but are not limited to:

• Cigarettes
• Cigars
• Chewing tobacco
• Snuff
• Pipes
• Vapes

Stipulations

Stipulations of the policy:

1. Smoking and the use of any tobacco products are not permitted by patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, volunteers, students, and all others on any IHS property.
2. Smoking cessation programs will be offered to employees of IHS to support all people who request help to quit smoking.
3. Tobacco use will be addressed as appropriate for each individual patient. The attending physician will assess and discuss the need for Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)/Smoking Cessation Therapy with a patient who is a tobacco user. As indicated, the physician will write an order for the appropriate treatment. When a patient is to be admitted for elective surgery or a procedure, the admitting physician should discuss this policy prior to hospitalization.
4. Smoking is not permitted in vehicles that are parked or being driven on any property owned or leased by IHS.
5. Employees who use tobacco products during nonworking hours are not to have a recognizable odor of tobacco smoke when on duty. Refer to Personnel, Policy Number 130-1, Personal Appearance and Dress.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of different individuals are spelled out here:

1. Employees - This policy applies to all employees who work on any IHS property. Employees who consistently violate the tobacco free policy shall be subject to progressive corrective counseling up to and including discharge, in accordance with the hospital's personnel procedures. Employees should courteously inform fellow employees, physicians, patients, and visitors of this policy and request their compliance.
2. Patients - This policy applies to all patients who visit any IHS property. Upon admission, patients will sign the Patient Consent Form for the Tobacco Free Campus Wide Policy, which will be placed in the patient’s file. Patients not complying with the tobacco free policy shall be initially advised by the nursing staff, who will work with the patient's treatment team and attending physician in resolving the problem. Violations of the policy and federal laws regarding indoor smoking must be reported to Security. It will be the decision of Security to contact or notify the Municipal Fire Authority. Consistent violators will be reported to the Fire Marshall. For the patient’s safety, admitted patients are not permitted to leave the hospital to smoke or for any other reason. If a patient insists on leaving the hospital to smoke, the following process will be completed:
   1. The attending physician will be notified that the patient insists on leaving the hospital to smoke.
   2. An Against Medical Advice Form will be completed.
   3. The patient will be discharged AMA, per the physician order. All IVs or other medical devices must be removed.
   4. If the patient returns, he or she must be readmitted through Admitting or the Emergency Department.
3. Medical Staff - This policy applies to all medical staff who work on any IHS property. Physicians who consistently violate the tobacco free policy shall be reported to the Executive Committee for appropriate action in accordance with the Medical Staff Bylaws.
4. Visitors - This policy applies to all visitors of the hospital or any other IHS property. Visitors who are observed violating this tobacco free policy will be initially advised by employees. Resistance to the policy or hostility must be reported to Security. It will be the decision of Security to contact or notify the Municipal Fire Authority.
5. Students, Volunteers, and Others - This policy applies to all students, volunteers and others associated with IHS. Resistance to the policy or hostility must be reported to Security. It will be the decision of Security to contact or notify the Municipal Fire Authority.

Notification of the Tobacco Free Policy

This tobacco free policy shall be made known to IHS personnel, medical staff, patients and the public through any means deemed appropriate by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or their designee.