Prince William Health System To Ban Tobacco

Policy Will Prohibit Use At All Medical Facilities

Prince William Health System officials announced last week that the hospital and satellite medical facilities will be tobacco-free by the end of the month.

"It's important we take a firm stance on this issue so we are protecting the health and safety of all those on our campus," said Cynda Tipple, Prince William Hospital's chief operating officer. "The health system is an advocate for good health, and the research is clear on the adverse effects of tobacco products."

Hospital spokeswoman Mary Beth Gibson said the interior of Prince William Hospital has been tobacco-free for more than 25 years, but the initiative will ban tobacco use anywhere on the premises as well as at the hospital's assisted-living building and at its Gainesville and Haymarket medical facilities.

"We wanted to be very sensitive," Tipple said regarding why the hospital system waited 25 years to implement a 100 percent tobacco-free policy. "We respect that some portion of our patient population do choose to use tobacco, so we wanted to make sure the entire organization was thoroughly prepared for the change."

Prince William Hospital patients who are tobacco users will be evaluated and possibly put on nicotine-replacement therapy, Gibson said. The hospital is offering a six-week smoking cessation program to the public for $210.

Patients caught using tobacco products will be evaluated and could be discharged, Gibson said. No system of punishment or fines has been set up for employees or visitors caught smoking on the premises.

"We will tell people what the policy is, and we don't expect there to be any problems," Gibson said.

Prince William Health System is in the midst of numerous changes. Hospital officials are waiting for the go-ahead to merge with Inova Health System, but the Federal Trade Commission announced this month that it plans to try to stop the two from uniting to keep competition alive in the area.

Prince William Health System is also getting ready to open a facility in Haymarket and close its "out-of-date" facility in Gainesville, Gibson said. Set to open June 2, the Haymarket building will have radiology and rehabilitation services, a lab and an emergency center.