News Release

COMMUNITY ASKED TO HELP MAKE HOSPITAL SMOKE-FREE

October 17, 2006 —FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: CHRIS PORTER

UPMC Northwest is issuing a reminder about its smoke-free policy and is asking for the community’s help in achieving a smoke-free hospital.

All UPMC Northwest buildings and grounds were declared smoke-free when the new hospital opened in Seneca in October 2004. But frequent violations – including some that bring complaints from patients and visitors – have prompted UPMC Northwest to remind individuals that smoking is not permitted anywhere inside or outside the hospital.

The smoke-free designation applies to the area outside the main entrance, where violations occur most often, and all of the hospital grounds. It also affects all of UPMC Northwest’s off-campus sites including its hospital-owned physician practices, Outpatient Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Center in Franklin, Open MRI Center in Reno, the Visiting Nurses Association offices in Oil City, and Sugar Creek Station skilled nursing center in Sugar Creek.

UPMC Northwest’s smoke-free designation is intended to help foster a safe, healthy environment for patients, visitors, staff members and physicians, according to president Neil Todhunter. A smoke-free environment is in keeping with the organization’s mission of improving and maintaining health, and with its Safety Alerts For Everything (SAFE) program that seeks to make UPMC Northwest a safer place to work, visit, and obtain health care.

“Most people understand the intent of a smoke-free environment and comply with our desire that they not smoke, but we continue to experience problems with smoking, especially in restrooms, around the hospital’s main entrance, and in parking areas,” Todhunter said. “The incidence of smoking seems to be increasing, and that’s why we’re giving a reminder and asking everyone again to help keep the hospital smoke-free.”

Refraining from smoking at the hospital is “a choice that most of our patients, visitors and staff appreciate, and that helps us maintain an environment that is conducive to preserving health and caring for the sick,” he said.

To assist individuals in quitting smoking, UPMC Northwest regularly offers the American Lung Association’s “Freedom from Smoking” program. “Freedom from Smoking” classes are funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Venango County Substance Abuse Program.

The next “Freedom from Smoking” classes will be from 6 to 8 pm Monday for six weeks starting October 30 at Seneca Place, Route 257, Seneca. An additional class will be held from 6 to 8 pm Wednesday, Nov. 15.

Nicotine replacement products may be available at no charge to “Freedom from Smoking” participants who are uninsured or underinsured (if their insurance does not cover nicotine replacement products).

Individuals can sign up or learn more by calling the UPMC Northwest Community Relations office at 814-677-1462.