Tobacco Recovery and Wellness Initiative

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Patient Family Announcement

Dear Eagleville Patient and Family,

There has been much discussion recently surrounding Eagleville Hospital’s intent to become a tobacco-free campus. I am writing to inform you that this policy will officially take effect on Monday March 4, 2019

Our decision to become a tobacco-free campus was not one taken lightly. Our leadership, medical staff and human resources team spent a lot of time reviewing the latest research, clinical best practices and speaking with experts within the field. What we learned through this process is that allowing tobacco to be used by our patients during treatment undermines our work and their recovery. There is no question that going tobacco free is in the best interest of our patients, staff and the organization as a whole.

We know that this will be difficult for some and a welcome change for others. For those who may need help with managing nicotine withdrawal, our staff is prepared to address your concerns and offer the appropriate nicotine replacement therapy.

Enclosed with this letter is a list of frequently asked questions. These will help explain the rationale behind our decision to become a tobacco-free campus. It will also address questions that you may have about this change and what it means for you and your loved one. Our treatment team members will be available to discuss any concerns or questions that you or your family members may have.

At Eagleville Hospital, our goal is to provide our patients with the tools, knowledge and support they need to achieve a long and healthy recovery. This initiative is another step toward helping our patients achieve this vision.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Sincerely,

Maureen Pollock

Eagleville Hospital’s Tobacco Recovery and Wellness Initiative Information Sheet

Reasons for Eagleville Hospital’s Tobacco Recovery and Wellness Initiative

Recent research shows that continued smoking following drug and alcohol treatment increases the likelihood of substance-use relapse, whereas quitting smoking increases the odds of long-term abstinence. For example, if someone quits smoking at the same time they quit drinking, they can have a 25% greater chance of staying clean and sober.

The rate of tobacco-related deaths is higher among persons with substance use problems only (53.6%) and those with both substance use and mental health problems (46.8%), compared with the general population (30.7%).

Smoking has long been perceived as a recovery tool for those with substance-use disorder. This is a myth that the tobacco industry – and even recovery specialists – have allowed to spread. Persons with mental illness and substance use disorders can successfully quit using tobacco at rates similar to the general population. In fact, between 44% and 80% of people with substance use disorders want to quit smoking and want information on cessation services and resources.

Eagleville Hospital is an organization dedicated to providing patients with the knowledge, tools and support needed to achieve a successful recovery from substance-use disorder and mental illness. Allowing tobacco-use during treatment undermines this effort and patients’ recovery.

Goals of Eagleville Hospital’s Tobacco Recovery and Wellness Initiative

Eagleville Hospital’s tobacco recovery and wellness initiative aims to:

educate patients on the effect that tobacco use can have on their recovery
provide patients with a tobacco-free environment so they can focus on their health and recovery without the temptation or distraction of smoking
empower patients with the tools they need to quit smoking should they decide to make the commitment

Eagleville Hospital’s tobacco recovery and wellness initiative aims to spark an organization-wide culture shift by encouraging staff, visitors, vendors and others to break from an unhealthy habit that can harm themselves and those around them (i.e. patients) and replace it with healthy habits.

Eagleville Hospital’s tobacco recovery and wellness initiative helps to elevate the organization’s reputation among referring agencies and providers, payors, influencers, and the community at large. It also sets the tone for the future: that Eagleville Hospital is serious about recovery and is taking bold steps to help its patients succeed in their journey.

Details of Eagleville Hospital’s Tobacco Recovery and Wellness Initiative

Eagleville Hospital will become a tobacco-free campus starting March 4, 2019.

Tobacco use of any kind (smoking, vaping, chew, etc.) will not be tolerated by any person, anywhere on campus, including in personal vehicles parked on campus.

As of March 4, 2019, all ashtrays will be removed, and smoke decks will be repurposed to “fresh air decks.” The exception to this is Louchheim 2, which is temporarily closed for repairs.

No patient will be allowed to smoke while receiving treatment at Eagleville Hospital. Those caught smoking will have this behavior addressed by the patient care team per the patient handbook.

Smoking-cessation support will be provided to patients in the form of nicotine replacement (i.e. patches, lozenges and oral medication if prescribed), counseling, and other wellness initiatives provided by the nursing and adjunctive therapy departments.

Eagleville Hospital’s counselors have received training in smoking cessation interventions to prepare them for this initiative. Counselors, physicians and nurses will all be equipped to speak with patients about the negative impact that tobacco use has on recovery and provide cessation support as requested. Patients will be encouraged, but not required, to quit smoking.

All staff and visitors (patient family members, vendors, law enforcement personnel, etc.) will be required to adhere to Eagleville Hospital’s tobaccofree campus policy.

Patients in possession of any type of tobacco product upon admission will be required to turn it over to admission personnel so that it can be safely stored for the duration of their stay at Eagleville Hospital. These items will be returned to patients upon discharge should they want them. Any patients who are caught after admission with tobacco products of any kind (including cigarettes, E-cigarettes, chew, etc.) will have that contraband permanently confiscated.

Vendors Announcement

Dear Eagleville Vendor,

There has been much internal discussion recently surrounding Eagleville Hospital’s intent to become a tobacco-free campus. I am writing to inform you that this policy will officially take effect on Monday March 4, 2019

The decision to become a tobacco-free campus was not one taken lightly. Our leadership, medical staff and human resources team spent a lot of time reviewing the latest research, clinical best practices and speaking with experts within the field. What we learned through this process is that allowing tobacco to be used by our patients during treatment undermines our work and their recovery. There is no question that going tobacco free is in the best interest of our patients, staff and the organization at-large.

We would ask that you please notify your staff who function as contractors or agency personnel onsite at Eagleville Hospital of this campus-wide change. In order to help everyone understand the policy, as well as the rationale behind this decision, we have included a list of commonly asked questions and answers that may arise. Your assistance in sharing with your staff this memo, the attached questions, and the importance of their adherence to this new Eagleville policy while working on our campus, will be greatly appreciated. Should you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the department manager who contacted you. This is also the manager who sponsors your company or agency contract with Eagleville Hospital.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation throughout this transition.

Sincerely,

Maureen Pollock