Swiss Cheese Press Release for Hospitals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(DATE)
Hospital Contact: (NAME)
MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence Contact: Sarah Mayberry, , 207-662-5888
(Hospital) Honored for Addressing Tobacco Use
The Center for Tobacco Independence’s Breathe Easy initiative held the annual Tobacco-Free Hospital Gold Star Standards of Excellence Awards ceremony on Wednesday, September 27, to celebrate the efforts of Maine hospitals to address smoking and tobacco use on their campuses. This year, 33 hospitals from across the state and three gold star champions were recognized for their achievements in advancing campus smoke and tobacco-free policies as well as promoting tobacco-free lifestyles.
(Hospital) was recognized for meeting the (award level) in the 2017 Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program for efforts to prohibit smoke and tobacco use on campus and address client tobacco use. All Maine hospitals were invited and encouraged to apply for recognition; those that met at least seven of ten Gold Star Standards were recognized with a plaque. Award levels are based on best practice criteria such as a smoke and tobacco-free campus policy, annual screening for tobacco use, referral to tobacco treatment and supporting employee education related to tobacco treatment.
"We applaud the ongoing efforts of Maine hospitals to address tobacco use and exposure by meeting the Gold Star Standards.” ,” said Sarah Mayberry of the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence. “Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Maine and the United States, the recognized hospitals are taking important steps to address this issue for patients, staff and the community."
The awards ceremony provided an opportunity for hospitals to share successes and challenges of their efforts to create smoke and tobacco-free campus environments and support and encourage tobacco-free lifestyles. While many acknowledged challenges faced when first adopting new campus policies and initiatives, all shared that addressing tobacco use on campus is an important health and environmental strategy as a healthcare provider.
Organization representative, “(statement about local efforts or success)”
For more information about the Tobacco-Free Hospital initiative and Gold Star Standards of Excellence recognition program, please visit MaineTobaccoFreeHospitals.org/GSSE.
The Breathe Easy Tobacco-Free Hospital initiative at the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence is dedicated to providing Maine’s hospitals with the information and resources needed to make all organizations smoke and tobacco-free.
The program is funded by Maine Prevention Services. Maine Prevention Services is an initiative through the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention working across the state to impact tobacco, substance use, and obesity.
2017 Awardees and Award level
Blue Hill Memorial Hospital—Gold
Calais Regional Hospital—Silver
Cary Medical Center—Gold
Central Maine Medical Center– Gold
Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital—Gold
Down East Community Hospital—Gold
Eastern Maine Medical Center—Gold
Franklin Memorial Hospital—Gold
Houlton Regional Hospital—Gold
Inland Hospital—Gold
LincolnHealth—Gold
Maine Coast Memorial Hospital—Gold
Maine Medical Center—Gold
MaineGeneral Medical Center—Gold
Mayo Regional Hospital –Gold
Mercy Hospital—Gold
Mid Coast Hospital—Gold
Millinocket Regional Hospital –Gold
Mount Desert Island Hospital—Gold
New England Rehabilitation Hospital—Bronze
Northern Maine Medical Center—Gold
Pen Bay Medical Center—Gold
Penobscot Valley Hospital—Gold
Redington-Fairview General Hospital—Silver
Rumford Hospital—Gold
Sebasticook Valley Health—Gold
Southern Maine Health Care—Gold
Spring Harbor Hospital—Gold
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center—Gold
Stephens Memorial Hospital—Gold
The Aroostook Medical Center—Gold
Waldo County General Hospital—Gold
York Hospital—Gold
Gold Star Champion Recipients:
Casey Lancaster– Southern Maine Health Care
Penny York– Stephens Memorial Hospital
Tobacco-Free Policy Committee– St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center
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