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Healthy Business, Breakfast and Smoke Free Campuses —- A New Era for Winter Haven Hospital

Posted by Bob Gernert on August 26, 2008 at 2:28 pm

Healthy Business and Healthy Breakfast on September 23 – Chamber Sneak Preview

Winter Haven Hospital will present a special Chamber sneak preview of its new $40 million 60,000 sq. ft. addition on Tuesday, September 23 beginning at 8 a.m. in the medical center’s new lobby. This event is open to Winter Haven Chamber members and features a free breakfast with your RSVP by September 16.

The healthy breakfast start to your day will take place in the new lobby area and tours of other new areas will be offered. Enter the hospital from Avenue F, NW and follow the signs to parking and then to the new lobby.

You can RSVP here.

Winter Haven Hospital adopts Smoke- and Tobacco-free Policy for All Campuses

Nationwide, more than 450,000 deaths a year are attributable to smoking. Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of preventable death. More than 500 hospitals across the country have adopted tobacco-free policies.

Winter Haven Hospital will join many Florida hospitals and more than 500 across the country in having a smoke- and tobacco-free campus beginning Oct. 1, 2008. The policy will apply to patients, employees, physicians, volunteers and visitors. This effort is being undertaken to ensure a healthy environment at all hospital facilities.

Lance Anastasio, president and CEO of Winter Haven Hospital, explained: “Our mission statement begins: ‘To improve the health of the communities we serve…’ There is sufficient research regarding the harmful effects of smoking and inhaling second-hand smoke. Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States. One in every five deaths is attributable to cigarette smoking. More than 450,000 deaths are attributable to smoking. Knowing these facts, the Board of Trustees and medical staff members are in agreement that becoming a smoke- and tobacco-free campus is the appropriate thing to do.”

Bob Carter, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said: “As a healthcare organization committed to the health and safety of our patients and the community we serve, we have a responsibility to lead by example and provide a safe, clean and healthy environment. The U.S. Surgeon General has made us aware that even second-hand smoke is a contributing factor to respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer and coronary heart disease in non-smokers. This new policy to have no smoking inside the hospital buildings, or outside on hospital property, eliminates the potential dangers of second-hand smoke.”

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