Resources for Tobacco-Free Policy Implementation

Below is a list of resources that will aid in effective implementation of a tobacco-free policy. These resources have been gathered from DPH, the Boston Public Health Commisssion (BPHC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as hospital associations and healthcare systems across the country to give a well-rounded approach to the tobacco-free initiative.

Why Go Tobacco-Free?

• DPH Smoking Facts
• DPH Information on the Economic Costs of Smoking
• Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs White Paper
• CDC Tobacco-Related Mortality Information
• 2012 Joint Commission Tobacco Measures
 

Example Tobacco-Free Initiatives, Policies and Procedures

• MA DPH Tobacco Control Program Design
• BPHC Briefing: Tobacco-Free Hospitals Policies 
o Cessation Benefit Fact Sheet: Boston Public Health Commission
• Comprehensive Workplace Health Programs to Address Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Use in the Workplace
• CDC Signage for a Tobacco-Free Workplace
• MA Department of Public Health Tobacco-Free Workplace Initiative
• UMass UMass Addressing Tobacco through Organizational Change (ATTOC) Consultation Service
• Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network
o Model Policy
o Hospital Policies 
• Kansas Hospital Association 
o Model Policy
• West Virginia Hospital Association Tobacco-Free Hospitals Tool Kit
• Florida Hospital-Waterman Policy 
• Missouri Hospital Association Policy 
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
o Administrative smoke-free policy
o Considerations in Implementing Smoke-free / Tobacco-free Campus Policies
• University of California San Francisco - Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
o Becoming and Remaining Tobacco-Free Tool Kit
• University of Michigan Health System 
 

MA Hospital Case Studies:

• Lowell General Hospital
o Tobacco-Free Campus
o Tobacco-Free Policy
• Winchester Hospital
o Tobacco-Free Campus Policy 
o Personal Appearance Policy 
o Employee Handbook 
   

Tobacco-Free Hiring Policies

Some hospitals and health systems in Massachusetts have taken their commitment to public health a step beyond instituting a tobacco-free campus and have adopted tobacco-free hiring policies as well. The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association stopped hiring tobacco users as of January 1st, 2011.

Vanguard New England Tobacco-Free Policy 

Anna Jaques Hospital Tobacco-Free Campus & Employment Policy 

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth Tobacco-Free Policy 

Tobacco Free: Patients, Policy and Practicum

As part of MHA’s Healing Inside and Out: MA Tobacco-Free Hospitals initiative to voluntarily ban all tobacco use on hospital, health system and other affiliated caregiver campuses, the association offered a free member briefing for hospitals and health systems on December 12, 2011. This complimentary webinar, Tobacco Free: Patients, Policy and Practicum, provides an expanded look at additional resources hospitals can use, and efforts they can take, to assist patients, visitors, and employees quit smoking. Participants were able to troubleshoot implementation issues and garner best practices through shared case studies and discussing lessons learned. Please review the presentation and feel free to contact our guest speakers if you have further questions.