Work Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention Program

We’re Counting Down to January 1, 2007—That’s When Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Goes Tobacco-Free

Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital has joined with 12 other hospitals in New York’s Capital Region in counting the days until the hospital’s campus becomes smoke-free on January 1, 2007. This means that no smoking will be allowed anywhere on hospital property by anyone—staff, patients, or visitors. This also means an end to all designated smoking areas, gazebos, smoking shacks, etc.

The policy advances the healthcare missions of the hospitals involved by protecting the health of patients, visitors and employees by reducing the amount of second-hand smoke. Announced in November 2005 on the “Great American Smoke-Out Day,” the initiative is believed to be the largest coalition of hospitals in the nation to implement smoke-free grounds without a legal mandate to do so.

In the past year, Sunnyview has joined fellow hospitals in conducting extensive education campaigns, removing designated smoking areas on the grounds, implementing policies and procedures, and producing materials aimed at helping people cope with the change. Sunnyview has also offered smoking cessation classes for people who have tried to quit smoking, along with assisting people in obtaining tobacco replacement products (e.g., nicotine patches and gum).

Sunnyview has posted information about the smoke-free policy at all hospital entrances, as well as placed tent cards on tables in the cafeteria and in other waiting areas, to announce the policy and its implementation date. Additionally, Sunnyview participated in a major press conference on November 16 with the other 12 area hospitals to announce the policy to the media.

“A year ago, when these health facilities announced the intention to go smoke-free, it caused a ripple across New York,” Karen Carpenter-Palumbo, regional vice president for the American Cancer Society, sponsor of the Great American Smokeout, told reporters at the press conference. “Now health facilities from the Hudson Valley to Buffalo are following the Capital Region’s footsteps. This effort is a true testament to the leadership and vision of local health professionals.”

According to the American Cancer Society, second-hand smoke causes an estimated 46,000 deaths annually from heart disease in people who live with smokers but are not current smokers, and about 3,400 lung cancer deaths in non-smoking adults. In New York State alone, tobacco use is responsible for more than 24,000 deaths annually and more than $6 billion in direct health care costs each year.

People interested in quitting smoking may contact either:

The New York State Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 (www.nysmokefree.com)
The Butt Stops Here Smoking Cessation Program, 518-268-6165

Coordinator for Sunnyview’s tobacco-free initiative is Michael Tuttle, 518-386-3575.


	We’re Counting Down to January 1, 2007—That’s When Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Goes Tobacco-Free Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital has joined with 12 other hospitals in New York’s Capital Region in counting the days until the hospital’s campus becomes smoke-free on January 1, 2007. This means that no smoking will be allowed anywhere on hospital property by anyone—staff, patients, or visitors. This also means an end to all designated smoking areas, gazebos, smoking shacks, etc. The policy advances the healthcare missions of the hospitals involved by protecting the health of patients, visitors and employees by reducing the amount of second-hand smoke. Announced in November 2005 on the “Great American Smoke-Out Day,” the initiative is believed to be the largest coalition of hospitals in the nation to implement smoke-free grounds without a legal mandate to do so. In the past year, Sunnyview has joined fellow hospitals in conducting extensive education campaigns, removing designated smoking areas on the grounds, implementing policies and procedures, and producing materials aimed at helping people cope with the change. Sunnyview has also offered smoking cessation classes for people who have tried to quit smoking, along with assisting people in obtaining tobacco replacement products (e.g., nicotine patches and gum). Sunnyview has posted information about the smoke-free policy at all hospital entrances, as well as placed tent cards on tables in the cafeteria and in other waiting areas, to announce the policy and its implementation date. Additionally, Sunnyview participated in a major press conference on November 16 with the other 12 area hospitals to announce the policy to the media. “A year ago, when these health facilities announced the intention to go smoke-free, it caused a ripple across New York,” Karen Carpenter-Palumbo, regional vice president for the American Cancer Society, sponsor of the Great American Smokeout, told reporters at the press conference. “Now health facilities from the Hudson Valley to Buffalo are following the Capital Region’s footsteps. This effort is a true testament to the leadership and vision of local health professionals.” According to the American Cancer Society, second-hand smoke causes an estimated 46,000 deaths annually from heart disease in people who live with smokers but are not current smokers, and about 3,400 lung cancer deaths in non-smoking adults. In New York State alone, tobacco use is responsible for more than 24,000 deaths annually and more than $6 billion in direct health care costs each year. People interested in quitting smoking may contact either: The New York State Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 (www.nysmokefree.com) The Butt Stops Here Smoking Cessation Program, 518-268-6165 Coordinator for Sunnyview’s tobacco-free initiative is Michael Tuttle, 518-386-3575.
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