Morehead Hospital adopts no-smoking policy

Smoking will no longer be allowed on the grounds of Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden beginning Monday.

According to a new policy, no tobacco usage of any kind will be permitted by physicians, staff, patients or visitors at the main hospital campus at 117 E. Kings Highway or at the Wright Diagnostic Center at 618 S. Pierce St. The hospital’s board of trustees approved the tobacco-free resolution at its January meeting.

“As a health care organization, we are committed to the health and safety of our employees and patients,” said Hospital President/ CEO Carl Martin. “We believe that we have a responsibility to take a leadership role in the community on this major health issue.”

Smoking has not been allowed inside Morehead Memorial Hospital for years, according to Kerry Faunce, director of marketing and public relations for Morehead. The hospital previously had designated smoking areas on its grounds, which have been removed since the adoption of the tobacco-free policy. The hospital still has cigarette receptacles in the parking lot for visitors.

Martin said he acknowledges the hospital’s decision to go tobacco-free will be a difficult transition for smokers, but the hospital will do everything it can to ease the transition for smokers. Hospital patients who use tobacco will be offered nicotine patches (unless prohibited by their physician for medical reasons) during their stay to ease withdrawal symptoms, according to a hospital news release.

Morehead has offered smoking cessation classes and nicotine replacement aids to hospital staff who have a desire to quit smoking since the tobacco-free policy was announced a few months ago. Faunce said the hospital’s decision to go tobacco-free is not an effort to force anyone to quit smoking, although he does know of several employees who have already begun a smoking cessation program.

“We don’t know how many in actuality will decide to quit,” he said. “They can still go off campus on their meal break if they would like to smoke.”
Morehead is following the precedent of other area hospitals, including the Moses Cone Health System and Annie Penn Hospital, in its decision to become tobacco-free. According to the news release, implementing the tobacco-free policy is a way that Morehead Memorial Hospital can demonstrate its commitment to healthy living.