Wayne Memorial smoking ban

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA - You’re out of luck if you’re a smoker at Wayne Memorial Hospital whether you are a doctor, staff, patient or visitor. You can’t smoke, period. Not anywhere on the complex. Not even in the parking lots.

David Hoff, chief executive officer and Lisa Champeau, director of public relations, appeared before the Wayne County Commissioners on September 20 to receive a proclamation from the county congratulating the hospital on the ban that begins October 1, 2006.

“We are happy that you are providing leadership in this important matter for the health of our citizens,” said Tony Herzog, chairman of the commissioners.

“We feel that it is our obligation as the only hospital in Wayne County to promote the health of our citizens to do what we can to stop this dangerous addiction to smoking,” Hoff said. “It is a dangerous drug like a lot of others and people must be warned of the danger in every way we can.”

Hoff said the move against smoking was not a top-down decision by administration, but a bottom-up movement by staff. The hospital leadership has been preparing for this ban for one year.

“It is our understanding that hospitals in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre are going to adopt a smoking ban like this,” Hoff said. “It’s a growing trend that must continue in the state.”

Hoff decried the fact that Pennsylvania is a state where bans against smoking are not very prevalent.

“Pennsylvania is being called ‘the ash tray state’ because all the states that surround it have smoking bans,” Hoff said.

“I’m convinced that those who are still smoking want to stop but they can’t,” Hoff said. “Perhaps a ban like this will help.” The hospital is offering aids to smoking staff members to help them stop smoking, such as the nicotine patch, he said.