Winston-Salem’s two medical centers will both become completely tobacco-free for all patients, employees, and visitors during 2007. Forsyth Medical Center and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center will join almost 50 other hospitals and medical centers in North Carolina that have adopted tobacco-free policies.
For both medical centers, the new policies include all tobacco products and will apply to all properties considered part of the main campuses, including parking lots and parking decks. Both campuses have been smoke free for interior spaces since the mid-1990s. In addition to the main campuses, certain other properties affiliated with both institutions will be affected.
Officials for both medical centers said the new tobacco-free policy reinforces their mission and commitment to health, and maintains the high standard of service they give the community by providing quality health care in a tobacco-free environment.
Each medical center will develop its own schedule and plans for implementation of the new policy, including public notification, signage changes and support for employees and patients who use tobacco products and would like to quit.
# # #
Contacts
Forsyth Medical Center: Freda Springs, (336) 718-4079, fssprings@novanthealth.org
Media Relations
Main Number: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587