Medical Campus to Ban All Tobacco, Hiring Ban on Smokers

Anne Arundel Medical Center will soon ban all tobacco products on the property, and plans to forego hiring anyone who smokes.

Starting July 1, the medical center in Annapolis will expand its “tobacco-free” areas and ban e-cigarettes. The expanded policy will include all Anne Arundel Medical Center facilities and tobacco-free zones will include sidewalks, parking lots and garages, reports WMAR TV.

There will be no designated smoking or tobacco use areas and the policy applies to all employees, physicians, patients, vendors, volunteers, students and visitors.

The hospital isn’t alone in the move to ban tobacco products. On July 1, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will prohibit the use of all tobacco, including e-cigarettes. However, the zoo will establish a smoking area outside its main gate.

While Anne Arundel Medical Center has been “smoke-free” since 2007, the hospital’s website says current policy has been primarily focused on the medical park campus has been limited to cigarette use. The expanded policy applies to all employees, physicians, patients, contract staff, vendors, volunteers, students, and visitors at all AAMC facilities.

Starting July 1, 2015, the medical center will not hire anyone who uses tobacco products. The policy will not apply to people already working for the medical center.

“Going tobacco-free is a global public health goal. Smoking and tobacco use are the leading cause of preventable death worldwide,” says Dr. Stephen Cattaneo, medical director of thoracic oncology in the DeCesaris Cancer Institute at AAMC. “We are not only dedicated to the preservation of health and prevention of disease, but we also want to provide a safe and healthy work environment and promote the health and well-being of our employees, visitors and patients.”

The medical center provides resources to community members, including employees, who want help in their efforts to stop using tobacco. Free resources include classes and private one-on-one sessions with tobacco treatment specialists, as well as FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies at free or reduced cost.

For more information, visit askAAMC.org/smoking or call 443-481-5366.