1. St. Vincent's MedicalSt. Vincent's Medical
CenterCenter
Smoke-Free CampusSmoke-Free Campus
InitiativeInitiative
Presented by:Presented by:
Sandy Reyes, CoordinatorSandy Reyes, Coordinator
9/19/089/19/08

2. DemographicsDemographics
 St. Vincent’s is a 473 bed acute careSt. Vincent’s is a 473 bed acute care
hospital and a member of Ascension Healthhospital and a member of Ascension Health
 Level II trauma centerLevel II trauma center
 Approximately 450 physicians on its activeApproximately 450 physicians on its active
medical staffmedical staff
 Approximately 2400 EmployeesApproximately 2400 Employees
 First Fairfield County hospitalFirst Fairfield County hospital
to go smoke-free !!!!to go smoke-free !!!!

3. Why St. Vincent’s became aWhy St. Vincent’s became a
Smoke-Free CampusSmoke-Free Campus
 Supporting a smoke-free campus demonstratesSupporting a smoke-free campus demonstrates
the mission of St. Vincent’s which is to improvethe mission of St. Vincent’s which is to improve
upon the health of the populations we serve.upon the health of the populations we serve.
 By adopting a smoke free policy, we are settingBy adopting a smoke free policy, we are setting
an example of wellness and prevention that isan example of wellness and prevention that is
important to facilitating positive health outcomesimportant to facilitating positive health outcomes
for our patients, staff, and community.for our patients, staff, and community.

4. May 30, 2006May 30, 2006
 Susan L. Davis RN, Ed.D. President andSusan L. Davis RN, Ed.D. President and
CEO, announced the smoke-free campusCEO, announced the smoke-free campus
initiative.initiative.
 ““I recognize that this initiative is somewhatI recognize that this initiative is somewhat
controversial, but believe that we need tocontroversial, but believe that we need to
be a leader and to role model healthybe a leader and to role model healthy
lifestyles. This is one visible way to dolifestyles. This is one visible way to do
so…”so…”

5. Smoke-Free Campus (SFC)Smoke-Free Campus (SFC)
Implementation Check ListImplementation Check List
1. Keys to a successful implementation1. Keys to a successful implementation
 Create an Executive Task Force (ETF) to oversee SFC committee.Create an Executive Task Force (ETF) to oversee SFC committee.
 ETF helps guide the creation of work groups and responsibilities toETF helps guide the creation of work groups and responsibilities to
implement the change.implement the change.
 ETF and SFC collaborate to develop and facilitate the smoke freeETF and SFC collaborate to develop and facilitate the smoke free
policy plan.policy plan.
Executive leadership support is essential for change!
2. Build an excellent team2. Build an excellent team
 Create SFC to work with ETF and implement change.
 SFC committee members should be multidisciplinary.

6. 3. Develop a comprehensive and viable plan3. Develop a comprehensive and viable plan
Make changes to facilitate transition to a smoke-freeMake changes to facilitate transition to a smoke-free
campuscampus
 Install smoke-free campus signsInstall smoke-free campus signs
 Remove all cigarette receptaclesRemove all cigarette receptacles
 Tell employees why you are doing thisTell employees why you are doing this
 Offer support to employees prior to implementationOffer support to employees prior to implementation
 Smoking cessation programsSmoking cessation programs
 Nicotine replacement therapyNicotine replacement therapy
 EAPEAP
 Obtain insurance coverage for at least one tobacco cessation drug
Evaluate and refine the policy as neededEvaluate and refine the policy as needed
Be flexible and be patient-Be flexible and be patient-
 Keep your eye on the long term goalKeep your eye on the long term goal

7. 5. Set A Realistic Timeline5. Set A Realistic Timeline
4. Social Marketing Activities4. Social Marketing Activities
 Company newsletter, global email, employeeCompany newsletter, global email, employee
mailings, intranetmailings, intranet
 Signs, displays, postersSigns, displays, posters
 Press releasePress release
 Flyers in all waiting areas and unitsFlyers in all waiting areas and units
 MapsMaps
These activities help educate employees, patients, and visitorsThese activities help educate employees, patients, and visitors
about the change and positively influence their health behaviorabout the change and positively influence their health behavior

8. Putting the Checklist into ActionPutting the Checklist into Action

9. The Smoke-Free CampusThe Smoke-Free Campus
Committee is a MultidisciplinaryCommittee is a Multidisciplinary
TeamTeam
 Senior AdministrationSenior Administration
 Respiratory CareRespiratory Care
 MarketingMarketing
 SecuritySecurity
 Library ServicesLibrary Services
 Human Resources/Labor RelationsHuman Resources/Labor Relations
 RadiologyRadiology
 Administrative ServicesAdministrative Services
 HospitalistHospitalist
 Pastoral CarePastoral Care
 Psych UnitPsych Unit
Smokers, Non-Smokers
and Former Smokers
were recruited

10. Timeline for St. Vincent’sTimeline for St. Vincent’s
Smoke-Free Campus Kick-offSmoke-Free Campus Kick-off
 5/30/06 Initiative announced5/30/06 Initiative announced
 6/22/06 Committee established6/22/06 Committee established
 7/24/06 Letter from president mailed to:7/24/06 Letter from president mailed to:
(employees, volunteers and physicians)
 7/27/06 President’s letter published in the employee newsletter7/27/06 President’s letter published in the employee newsletter
 8/1/06 President’s letter published on the intranet8/1/06 President’s letter published on the intranet
 9/13/06 Management conference role play9/13/06 Management conference role play
 9/19/06 Stress reduction classes started9/19/06 Stress reduction classes started
 9/29/06 Staff education classes started9/29/06 Staff education classes started
 10/1/06 Letters mailed out to all vendors10/1/06 Letters mailed out to all vendors

11. Timeline for St. Vincent’sTimeline for St. Vincent’s
Smoke-Free Campus Kick-offSmoke-Free Campus Kick-off
 10/13/06 New policy finalized10/13/06 New policy finalized
 10/13/06 Press release10/13/06 Press release
 10/26/06 Awareness fair10/26/06 Awareness fair
 11/1/06 Staff education11/1/06 Staff education
 11/2/06 Nursing grand rounds on NRT’s11/2/06 Nursing grand rounds on NRT’s
 11/8/06 Smoke cessation classes started11/8/06 Smoke cessation classes started
 11/11/06 President’s final smoke-free letter sent to all staff members11/11/06 President’s final smoke-free letter sent to all staff members
 11/15/06 Smoke-free campus signs installed11/15/06 Smoke-free campus signs installed
 11/15/06 Removal of smoking hut11/15/06 Removal of smoking hut
 11/16/06 KICK OFF - Smoke-free campus11/16/06 KICK OFF - Smoke-free campus
 11/16/06 Cafeteria served “cold turkey sandwiches”11/16/06 Cafeteria served “cold turkey sandwiches”
 ONGOING Evaluate and refine policyONGOING Evaluate and refine policy

12. Social Marketing CampaignSocial Marketing Campaign
 Educational materials provided to allEducational materials provided to all
employees on the new policy changeemployees on the new policy change
and expectations prior toand expectations prior to
implementation.implementation.
 Educational sessions on the benefitsEducational sessions on the benefits
of going smoke-free were conductedof going smoke-free were conducted
two months prior to implementation.two months prior to implementation.
 Role playing was conducted atRole playing was conducted at
management conference.management conference.
 Employees received frequentEmployees received frequent
communications viacommunications via
email/newsletters.email/newsletters.
EmployeeEmployee
CommunicationsCommunications
 Flyers in lobby and other areasFlyers in lobby and other areas
of the hospitalof the hospital
 Hospital map designated nonHospital map designated non
smoking areas located at frontsmoking areas located at front
desk, E.D, admittingdesk, E.D, admitting
 New policy letters sent out to allNew policy letters sent out to all
agencies working with theagencies working with the
hospital by St. Vincent’shospital by St. Vincent’s
President/CEOPresident/CEO
 Press releasePress release
Vendor/Visitor/PatientVendor/Visitor/Patient
CommunicationsCommunications

13. SloganSlogan

14. Website Contains Links To :Website Contains Links To :
 Smoke-free campusSmoke-free campus
announcementannouncement
 PolicyPolicy
 Nicotine ReplacementNicotine Replacement
 Campus mapCampus map

15. New Policy states:New Policy states:
 Smoking is prohibited anywhere on theSmoking is prohibited anywhere on the
Medical Center campus.Medical Center campus.
 Employees are asked to be mindful ofEmployees are asked to be mindful of
tobacco odors on their person, which maytobacco odors on their person, which may
be offensive to others.be offensive to others.

16. ExpectationsExpectations
 All staff members required to adhere toAll staff members required to adhere to
the new policy.the new policy.
 Staff expectation in communicating theStaff expectation in communicating the
new policy to all patients and visitors. Thisnew policy to all patients and visitors. This
is NOT the responsibility of the Securityis NOT the responsibility of the Security
Department only!Department only!

17. Patient Notification of ChangePatient Notification of Change
 All office managers were notified of theAll office managers were notified of the
upcoming policy change in order to informupcoming policy change in order to inform
the patient prior to hospitalization.the patient prior to hospitalization.
 A campus map is part of the admittingA campus map is part of the admitting
packet.packet.

18. Vendor letterVendor letter Flyer announcementFlyer announcement

19. A vendor letter and a flyer wereA vendor letter and a flyer were
mailed to the following agencies:mailed to the following agencies:
 Local Police DepartmentsLocal Police Departments
 Local Emergency Medical ServicesLocal Emergency Medical Services
 Local Fire DepartmentsLocal Fire Departments
 Local Health DepartmentsLocal Health Departments
 Neighboring HospitalsNeighboring Hospitals
 ContractorsContractors

20. St. Vincent’s Campus MapSt. Vincent’s Campus Map
All the red colored areas indicated on this map are designated non-smokingAll the red colored areas indicated on this map are designated non-smoking
areas of the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Campus.areas of the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Campus.
This map is available at the Emergency Room, Information Desk and theThis map is available at the Emergency Room, Information Desk and the
Admitting Department.Admitting Department.

21. Implementing a Smoke-Free
St. Vincent’s Medical Center
October 2006
This educational material contains:
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
CASE SITUATIONS/ROLEPLAY SCENARIOS
Intended audience: All employees, students and volunteers.
Employee Educational BrochureEmployee Educational Brochure
This brochure contains questions and answers and role play scenarios. ItThis brochure contains questions and answers and role play scenarios. It
was handed out to all employees who attended the awareness fair. It iswas handed out to all employees who attended the awareness fair. It is
also available on the smoke-free web page.also available on the smoke-free web page.

22. Educational SessionEducational Session
 Two educationalTwo educational
sessions on “sessions on “TheThe
Benefits of GoingBenefits of Going
Smoke-Free”Smoke-Free” and onand on
““The Health HazardsThe Health Hazards
of Tobaccoof Tobacco” were” were
provided to allprovided to all
employees prior toemployees prior to
implementation.implementation.

23. SignageSignage

24. SignageSignage
 Signs are located atSigns are located at
all door entrancesall door entrances
 On the walk waysOn the walk ways
 In all parking garagesIn all parking garages

25. Ideas Borrowed From OtherIdeas Borrowed From Other
HospitalsHospitals
 We used a similarWe used a similar
idea and handed outidea and handed out
a bag of mints thata bag of mints that
stated ourstated our “No“No
Smoking Policy”Smoking Policy”
during our awarenessduring our awareness
fair and for a fewfair and for a few
months aftermonths after
implementation.implementation.

26. BudgetBudget
 Educational MaterialsEducational Materials
 SignsSigns
 FlyersFlyers
 Nicotine ReplacementNicotine Replacement
TherapyTherapy
 Smoke CessationSmoke Cessation
ClassesClasses
 Tent cardsTent cards
 T-shirtsT-shirts
 MintsMints

27. ConclusionConclusion
 Tobacco-free campus policies have theTobacco-free campus policies have the
potential to decrease illnesses andpotential to decrease illnesses and
absenteeism, increase productivity andabsenteeism, increase productivity and
send a powerful message to thesend a powerful message to the
community at large.community at large.
 National and state tobacco initiatives haveNational and state tobacco initiatives have
created a cultural atmosphere that is ripecreated a cultural atmosphere that is ripe
for policy change.for policy change.

28. Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, 1886Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, 1886
VVincent van Gogh (1853-1890)incent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Questions ?Questions ?
In closing…Let us remember the words of Mark Twain:In closing…Let us remember the words of Mark Twain:
““Quitting smoking is easy,Quitting smoking is easy,
I’ve done it a thousand times.”I’ve done it a thousand times.”

29. For more information contact:For more information contact:
 Sandy Reyes at sreyes@stvincents.org orSandy Reyes at sreyes@stvincents.org or
call 203 576-5505call 203 576-5505