| June 19, 2008 |
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PRMC TO BECOME TOBACCO FREE ON AUGUST 1 |
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Paris Regional Medical Center is going tobacco-free on August 1, 2008. After that date, no tobacco use of any kind will be permitted inside or outside any of Paris Regional Medical Center’s facilities. This initiative also will include the elimination of designated areas outside its facilities where employees, patients and visitors currently use tobacco products.
By making its environment completely tobacco free, Paris Regional Medical Center is addressing the number one health risk today.
“As a health care organization, committed to the health and safety of our patients, we have a responsibility to take a leadership role on this major health issue,” said Chris Dux, Paris Regional’s CEO. “We have a further responsibility to treat the whole patient, both mentally and physically. Allowing patients to use tobacco products while in our care defeats this purpose.”
Tobacco is the cause of death for 26,000 Texans every year and is the root cause of many illnesses and lost productivity. Tobacco use in and around hospitals poses health and safety risks for patients, employees and visitors.
“Our decision to go tobacco-free is not an attempt to ‘force’ anyone to quit smoking, said Dux. “Rather, the tobacco-free initiative is a concrete way we can demonstrate our ongoing commitment to healthy living.”
A PRMC employee task force – made up of smokers and non-smokers – has been guiding the hospital through its transition to make the change as easy as possible for employees. PRMC is offering smoking cessation classes and educational materials, as well as discounted nicotine replacement gum, to help employees who want to quit.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Melynda Hutchings, PRMC’s Director of Education, at 903-737-3823.
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Paris, Texas 75460
