Local hospital receives gold star
PRESQUE ISLE — The Aroostook Medical Center was recently recognized by the Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network for its excellence in creating a tobacco-free environment for patients, employees and the community. TAMC received a gold star award, the highest level of recognition given by the Hospital Network.
“As an important health resource for the community, it’s essential for TAMC to set the standard for others to follow,” said Sylvia Getman, TAMC president and chief executive officer. “Tobacco use leads to a variety of serious health issues, and we want to do whatever we can to give people the help they need to quit.”
Twenty-seven percent of adults living in Aroostook County smoke, which is significantly higher than the state average of 22 percent. Aroostook County also has high incidence rates of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, diseases that can be caused or made worse by smoking.
TAMC was awarded gold-level recognition because it met all 10 criteria required by the Tobacco-Free Hospital Network. Specific criteria include having written policies to alert patients, visitors and staff that TAMC is 100 percent tobacco-free, making information and treatment options available to those who want to quit, and forbidding tobacco advertising in waiting room publications.
The criteria hospitals must meet to receive the gold star are very stringent,” said Darcy Kinney, manager of TAMC’s occupational health and wellness service. “TAMC must have clear signage in place, use 100 percent smoke-free lodging when putting up out-of-town guests whenever possible, and refusing donations of tobacco industry stock.”
TAMC also offers a variety of services to employees who want to quit, including free one-on-one sessions and educational material.
The health care organization actively encourages patients who use tobacco to consider quitting. In partnership with Healthy Aroostook, tobacco cessation information is made available in physician practice waiting rooms and exam rooms. Caregivers are required to ask about patients’ smoking status at every visit. Tobacco users who are in the hospital for an overnight stay receive appropriate smoking cessation information and medication.
TAMC, which has been tobacco-free for 10 years, is one of 16 Maine hospitals to be recognized with a gold star in 2012, and one of only five hospitals to achieve the highest level of recognition for each of the past three years. The hospital regularly reviews its policy in order to continue improving its tobacco cessation programs.
“A recent review of our policy led us to add electronic cigarettes to the list of tobacco items prohibited on TAMC property,” added Kinney. “These alternatives to traditional cigarettes usually contain nicotine, so they are not safe to use.”
