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Posted on 01/02/2004 2:51:18 PM PST by SheLion

Beginning Thursday, January 1 2004, smoking will be banned on the property of both Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. This includes all campuses in several different towns.

Memorial Hospital employees try to keep their smoking out of the public eye. They gather at what is known as the smoke hut to light up. "We are inconspicuous. We are out here not causing trouble. We should be able to keep our spot," says Heather Scott, a housekeeper at Memorial.

But for every hidden spot smokers gather, there's a more open smoking spot which can impact others. 

"Second hand smoke has not been filtered and goes into the lungs or comes from a cigarette and can be just as harmful," said Dr. Ken Elek, a Memorial family physician. (Barf)

Mark Strevinger, a Memorial Intensive Care nurse, says, "As a health care representative I think they should have done it a long time ago. As a smoker I don't think it is right."

Some doctors don't think the ban is right for patients. One said he didn't feel that it is good for a patient to go through nicotine withdraw while they are ill.  (They are right.  Illness is very stressful, and being prevented from having a cigarette will slow down the recovery process).

The hospitals have programs to help prevent withdraw. They offer free classes over the phone and provide nicotine gum and nicotine patches.  (This would not be my choice.  I won't be coerced into anything)

Activists are already seeing more interest in smoke free environments. Amy Clifford with Healthy Communities says, "We are entering a new age where smoking is no longer socially acceptable."There is hope that smoking will eventually be banned in restaurants and at other workplaces. If you'd like to quit smoking or find out if you favorite restaurant is smoke free call Healthy Communities at 239-8585.

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