Banner Baywood Campus is now tobacco free
Above: Employees and visitors to the Banner Baywood Campus will see signs like this promoting a tobacco-free hospital zone.
MESA, Ariz. (Nov. 20, 2008) – Banner Heart Hospital and Banner Baywood Medical Center have banned smoking on their shared medical campus.
The new policy kicked off on Thursday, Nov. 20, to coincide with the “Great American Smoke Out,” a series of activities promoted by the American Cancer Society to encourage people to stop smoking.
The hospitals hosted activities on Thursday with experts from the American Cancer Society and Maricopa County.
The ban is a change to the current rule, which allowed smoking in certain areas. Now, there will be no tobacco use on the medical campus – or even across the street. View a detailed map of the areas that are tobacco free.
Tobacco products are defined as:
- cigarettes
- cigars
- chew
- dip
- snuff
- pipes
- similar items
The policy applies to staff, patients, and all visitors. The areas affected by the tobacco-free rule include all property and structures within the boundary of Power Road (East), Baywood Avenue (South), 63rd Street (West), and Property Line (North). The change is part of the effort to promote a healing environment while maintaining the health of the hospitals’ patients and guests.
If you or somebody you know needs help to quit using tobacco products, there are several programs available:
- Arizona Smoker’s Helpline offers counseling over the telephone. Please call 1 (800) 556-6222 to take advantage of this free program.
- Nicotine Anonymous offers a 12-step program. The program is free of charge to anyone who has the desire to quit smoking. Group members share their experiences. Call (480) 990-3860 for 24-hour referral and information.
- Carl T. Hayden Veterans Medical Center offers, to veterans only, a smoking cessation program. The program includes group support and behavior modification. You’ll need a consult from primary doctor or nurse practitioner to participate in this program.
- National Cancer Institute offers free over-the-phone counseling that provides suggestions and support to help break the smoking habit. Call 1(877) 44U-QUIT.
- Becomeanex.org offers a free Web site based plan that helps people learn how to quit smoking. www.smokefree.gov
- American Lung Association Helpline offers free over-the-phone tobacco cessation counseling. Call 1(800) 548-8252 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. www.FFSonline.org
