To mark the 33rd anniversary of the Great American
Smokeout, all northern hospitals, health facilities
and offices of Barnabas Health became smoke-free campus wide on
November 19, 2009.
The campuses that became smoke-free included
Clara Maass Medical Center, Livingston Services, Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center, Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center, Barnabas
Health Corporate Center, Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center,
Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Barnabas Health Outpatient Centers and all Barnabas
Health facilities and property in northern New Jersey.
Connie Greene, vice president of Barnabas Health 's Institute for Prevention, believes
that going smoke-free on all campuses not only
promotes good health and a healthy environment,
but is essential to foster the sense of health
and healing that exists at hospitals and health care facilities.
“Barnabas Health is committed to creating and maintaining
a healthy workplace for all patients and their families, employees, and physicians.
Maintaining a tobacco-free workplace is a critical part of that commitment,” said
Ms. Greene.
In 2008 the southern Barnabas Health facilities became smoke-free and this year, the northern facilities
also continue the goal of Barnabas Health in making the
entire System smoke-free.”
This initiative means that smoking is prohibited
both indoors and outdoors on all properties
owned and operated by Barnabas Health, including
parking areas. Therefore, an important component of the smoke-free
campus initiative is helping employees, patients and family members
quit the habit for good.
“We are offering tobacco treatment through our Tobacco Dependence Treatment
Program to both employees and the public,” she said. “Employees
can take advantage of quit meetings offered at each location with flexible
times to accommodate different shifts. Treatment services are also available
to the public through a comprehensive eight-week program.”
The Tobacco Dependence Treatment Program is
funded fully by Barnabas Health.
The program consists of individual tobacco
assessments for every participant. After the
assessment, participants work with a Tobacco
Treatment Specialist to create a treatment plan best suited to that individual’s
needs, including the eight-week quit program.
Leading up to November 19, 2009 the System
provided education and information to families
and patients during pre-registration and upon
registration clearly stating the no-smoking
on campus policy. Ms. Greene said, “We
gave our staff tools and educational
materials to help remind fellow employees,
visitors and patients to observe our policy.”
Patients can request Nicotine Replacement
Therapy to assist with their comfort while
they are hospitalized.
“We know quitting smoking is a difficult thing to do,” Ms. Greene
said. “But we have established a comprehensive program for patients,
employees and visitors to our facility to help beat their addiction to nicotine.
We acknowledge that going smoke-free on our campuses was an adjustment
for everyone, but in the end, it’s just the right thing to do.”
For more information on the Tobacco Dependence
Treatment Program, call 973-926-7978 or 732-886-4149, email smokefree@barnabashealth.org,
or visit www.instituteforprevention.com.
The New Jersey Tobacco-Free Hospital Campus Collaborative is a
coalition of more than 20 hospitals and health systems across the
state. These systems, through a partnership with the American
Cancer Society, are committed to working together to create a healthier
environment for their patients, employees and visitors by eliminating
the use of all tobacco products throughout their entire campus.
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