deborah212 Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 For those of you who work in a hospital, what are the protocols for smoking (both employees and patients)? The first hospital I worked at went completely smoke-free across the campus. Employees were offered free smoking cessation treatment ~6months before this happened, and patients had the usual option of nicotine patch +/- lozenges. Surprisingly, we didn't have much push-back from patients once the change went into effect. The policy was upfront on admission. I've also worked in a location where there's a designated smoking area for employees, and smoking patients semi-frequently leave the floor to do so. This leaves me an uncomfortable medical-legal situation (ie, you're sick enough to require hospitalization, yet you are going outside to smoke even though I've counseled you not to). My bias is towards a hospital wide no-smoking policy but I can understand the hardships for employees. How many hospitals have gone completely smoke-free, and how have you done so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deborah212 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 For those of you who work in a hospital, what are the protocols for smoking (both employees and patients)? The first hospital I worked at went completely smoke-free across the campus. Employees were offered free smoking cessation treatment ~6months before this happened, and patients had the usual option of nicotine patch +/- lozenges. Surprisingly, we didn't have much push-back from patients once the change went into effect. The policy was upfront on admission. I've also worked in a location where there's a designated smoking area for employees, and smoking patients semi-frequently leave the floor to do so. This leaves me an uncomfortable medical-legal situation (ie, you're sick enough to require hospitalization, yet you are going outside to smoke even though I've counseled you not to). My bias is towards a hospital wide no-smoking policy but I can understand the hardships for employees. How many hospitals have gone completely smoke-free, and how have you done so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyjoker Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 One hospital near where I live was the first one I know of in our area that went completely smoke free several years ago. Now, they are passing a rule that if employees come to work smelling like smoke, they will be asked to leave. I believe the hospital is over stepping its boundaries here. The other facilities I work at are smoke-free, but no draconian rules like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyjoker Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 One hospital near where I live was the first one I know of in our area that went completely smoke free several years ago. Now, they are passing a rule that if employees come to work smelling like smoke, they will be asked to leave. I believe the hospital is over stepping its boundaries here. The other facilities I work at are smoke-free, but no draconian rules like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 18, 2011 Moderator Share Posted October 18, 2011 We have pts sign a waiver if they "go out to smoke" which basically says if they die while off the floor we are not responsible. our facility is "smoke free" but folks (both staff and pts) congregate on the sidewalk to light up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 18, 2011 Moderator Share Posted October 18, 2011 We have pts sign a waiver if they "go out to smoke" which basically says if they die while off the floor we are not responsible. our facility is "smoke free" but folks (both staff and pts) congregate on the sidewalk to light up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Local hospital has had a "Tobbacco Free CAMPUS" since 2004. The entire campus is tobbacco free (That means no smoking or smokeless tobacco products) and therefore no patients or staff can smoke on it. The hospital sits in the middle of a huge campus so its between 400-700 meters in any direction to get off the hospital campus/grounds. Smokers can't even smoke IN their car if its on hospital property. A few hospitals in surrounding areas (closest 30+ miles) not only have "tobbacco free" properties but also have had the policy of escalated reprimand for staff that come in smelling of smoke. Asked to change and written warning, asked to leave and written warning, terminated.... Nowadays... LOTS of healthcare organizations will simply NOT HIRE smokers. The pre-employment tox screen actually test for nicotine along with the traditional drugs of abuse. The Cleveland Clinic, banned the hiring of smokers in 2007. Franciscan Health System, which includes five full-service hospitals in Washington, will deny employment to any applicant who uses tobacco in any form. Applicants will be required to take a urine test, which can detect tobacco use from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snus, snuff, nicotine patches and even heavy second-hand smoke. Regardless of where the tobacco comes from, if it is detected, the individual will not be hired, but can reapply in six months.Franciscan Health System, which includes five full-service hospitals in Washington, will deny employment to any applicant who uses tobacco in any form. Applicants will be required to take a urine test, which can detect tobacco use from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snus, snuff, nicotine patches and even heavy second-hand smoke. Regardless of where the tobacco comes from, if it is detected, the individual will not be hired, but can reapply in six months... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Local hospital has had a "Tobbacco Free CAMPUS" since 2004. The entire campus is tobbacco free (That means no smoking or smokeless tobacco products) and therefore no patients or staff can smoke on it. The hospital sits in the middle of a huge campus so its between 400-700 meters in any direction to get off the hospital campus/grounds. Smokers can't even smoke IN their car if its on hospital property. A few hospitals in surrounding areas (closest 30+ miles) not only have "tobbacco free" properties but also have had the policy of escalated reprimand for staff that come in smelling of smoke. Asked to change and written warning, asked to leave and written warning, terminated.... Nowadays... LOTS of healthcare organizations will simply NOT HIRE smokers. The pre-employment tox screen actually test for nicotine along with the traditional drugs of abuse. The Cleveland Clinic, banned the hiring of smokers in 2007. Franciscan Health System, which includes five full-service hospitals in Washington, will deny employment to any applicant who uses tobacco in any form. Applicants will be required to take a urine test, which can detect tobacco use from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snus, snuff, nicotine patches and even heavy second-hand smoke. Regardless of where the tobacco comes from, if it is detected, the individual will not be hired, but can reapply in six months.Franciscan Health System, which includes five full-service hospitals in Washington, will deny employment to any applicant who uses tobacco in any form. Applicants will be required to take a urine test, which can detect tobacco use from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snus, snuff, nicotine patches and even heavy second-hand smoke. Regardless of where the tobacco comes from, if it is detected, the individual will not be hired, but can reapply in six months... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Interesting...on the urine screen for nictotene. Any ideas on how much it takes to show positive and how long it stays positive? In other words, if I enjoy the occasional cigar (I define that as once or twice a month) what sort of time line, if any, do I need to alter my habit pending the screen? Or does the intake of tobacco have to reach a certain threshold such as 4-5 cigarettes/day/ week or more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Interesting...on the urine screen for nictotene. Any ideas on how much it takes to show positive and how long it stays positive? In other words, if I enjoy the occasional cigar (I define that as once or twice a month) what sort of time line, if any, do I need to alter my habit pending the screen? Or does the intake of tobacco have to reach a certain threshold such as 4-5 cigarettes/day/ week or more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted October 18, 2011 Moderator Share Posted October 18, 2011 smoke free hospital - for everyone no real pushback but people do line up on the sidewalks..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted October 18, 2011 Moderator Share Posted October 18, 2011 smoke free hospital - for everyone no real pushback but people do line up on the sidewalks..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarciKiser Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 My hospital has an interesting duo of rules on smoking: 1) No one may smoke on company property 2) You may not leave company property while on the clock. As a non-smoker, this doesn't affect me personally, but it does make doing people's timecards an absurdist exercise when you see them clock out for three minutes or so and then clock back in twice a shift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarciKiser Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 My hospital has an interesting duo of rules on smoking: 1) No one may smoke on company property 2) You may not leave company property while on the clock. As a non-smoker, this doesn't affect me personally, but it does make doing people's timecards an absurdist exercise when you see them clock out for three minutes or so and then clock back in twice a shift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panelson Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Campus wide smoke free protocol out here in the Boston-suburban hospital. Although you can find many employees hanging around the back of the parking garage.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panelson Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Campus wide smoke free protocol out here in the Boston-suburban hospital. Although you can find many employees hanging around the back of the parking garage.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 The entire medical center here is smoke-free. The hospital I work at offers free smoking cessation resources for employees and I think immediate family as well. Of course none of this stops people from going to the corners of parking garages, spaces between buildings, and even out in the open(the latter being visitors in particular). I've never heard of someone getting ticketed for it even though they should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 The entire medical center here is smoke-free. The hospital I work at offers free smoking cessation resources for employees and I think immediate family as well. Of course none of this stops people from going to the corners of parking garages, spaces between buildings, and even out in the open(the latter being visitors in particular). I've never heard of someone getting ticketed for it even though they should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 We have designated smoking areas on campus Only allowed during breaks/non work times Agree that employees should not be caring for/coming in contact with patients if they smell of smoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 We have designated smoking areas on campus Only allowed during breaks/non work times Agree that employees should not be caring for/coming in contact with patients if they smell of smoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulPA Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 The Hospital I just left was totally Smoke Free. Public sidewalk only for employees and pt. Pt were given smoking cessation materials, offered patch or gum. If a pt is caught smoking in the bathroom then security confiscates their cigs (they get them back at d/c). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbellin Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 No patient smoking here. You walk out the door you left AMA, I'm not taking responsibility for what happens when not under supervised care. As for staff, it's always irritating when smokers are allowed to frequently step out for a smoke while the non-smokers continue to slave away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemegroup Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Agree that employees should not be caring for/coming in contact with patients if they smell of smoke Cigarette smoke for sure. However, during the winter, there may be those with fireplaces in their homes and that scent may linger (especially on flannel, denim, etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Nahhh... Burnt wood/lumber smells NOTHING like burnt tobacco. If the "smoking po-leece" can't differentiate between the two, there's likely been an infarct that damaged CN-I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesscbv Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 The office where I work just recently adopted a "no-smoking" policy for employees. All the employees were given 6 months time/warning for the new policy to take effect. It's nice that we'll be "walking the talk" so to speak, as it's a cardiology office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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