Fort HealthCare Goes
Tobacco-Free June 30

Fort HealthCare and all of its clinics and facilities will be tobacco-free effective June 30. Fort HealthCare’s medical staff and board of directors have endorsed this initiative, not only within the organization, but throughout the hospital’s service area.

“Fort HealthCare is committed to providing a healthy environment for patients, families and employees,” said Mike Wallace, president and CEO. “With this in mind, we’re undertaking organizationwide efforts to go tobacco-free as well as to reduce and eliminate smoking.” A recent report from the Wisconsin Hospital Association stated that 96 Wisconsin hospitals are already tobacco-free.

Smoking is permitted on Fort HealthCare property until the policy becomes effective. It has been a long-standing policy at Fort HealthCare to prohibit smoking within any of the organization’s facilities.

“It may be difficult for some, but not only does a smoke-free campus provide a healthy work environment and encourage good health, it also reaffirms the hospital’s goal of pursuing excellence in healthcare,” said Lorraine McCullough, RN, a co-chair for the Tobacco-Free Environment Committee.

According to The Burden of Tobacco in Jefferson County, a report authored by the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center Tobacco Surveillance & Evaluation Program, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and the American Cancer Society, 16 percent of the population of Jefferson County dies each year of an illness directly related to smoking.

The economic impact of smoking in Jefferson County is extensive. In 2003, the estimated healthcare costs of cigarette smoking were approximately $390 for every person. Residents of Jefferson County spent approximately $19.8 million on 5.2 million packs of cigarettes in 2004.