Kosciusko Community Hospital will be a tobacco-free campus beginning Nov. 15.
The hospital has developed a policy that will ban the use of tobacco products inside all KCH owned facilities and grounds surrounding the hospital, according to Joy Lohse, KCH director of marketing and public relations.
The policy coincides with the annual observance of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smoke Out.
The smoke out highlights the dangers of tobacco use and the challenges of quitting.
The areas where smoking will be banned effective Nov. 15 include inside and the grounds surrounding KCH, Beyer Medical Building, Warsaw Women's Center, Center of Hope Cancer Care, Warsaw Family Medicine, KCH Health & Wellness Center Building, KCH Medical Pavilion, HealthNet Plaza and the MedPark Building.
Banning the use of all tobacco products will apply to employees, volunteers, patients, medical staff members, visitors and vendors.
A task force, including input from hospital employees, medical staff, the KCH Board of Directors and administration, began discussing an approach in July 2006 to design the policy.
Currently, smoking is not allowed inside the hospital or inside any KCH owned facilities.
"While the inside of our facility has been smoke-free for several years, today patients and visitors may face walking through second-hand smoke in our parking areas and at our entrances," said KCH CEO Jerry Beasley.
"Our board, medical staff and management team are committed to providing an environment that promotes healing and good health."
Beasley said eliminating second-hand smoke is essential in achieving this goal.
"We hope that those who use tobacco will join us at KCH in an effort to create an overall healthier environment for our patients and visitors," Beasley said.
KCH Medical Staff President Dr. Steve Hossler also supports the initiative.
"Tobacco use is a proven leading cause of diseases that leads to poor health and ultimately many untimely deaths," Hossler said.
"The KCH medical staff members are leaders in encouraging our patients to live healthy lifestyles and believe that this tobacco-free policy is a winning plan for all."
