Warwick Healthcare Campus to go tobacco-free in November

Warwick - On Nov. 1, St. Anthony Community Hospital, Mount Alverno Center and Schervier Pavilion will go tobacco-free on Nov. 1. “The Warwick Healthcare Campus, as providers of health and wellness services to its community, remain focused on building healthier communities - this includes the prevention and control of tobacco use,” said campus administrator, Leah Cerkvenik, executive vice president. “The adoption of a tobacco-free campus supports and advances this goal. The policy applies to all Institute employees, patients, visitors, students, trainees, volunteers and vendors without exception. The tobacco-free areas will include all buildings, grounds, the parking ramp as well as vehicles parked on campus property and all campus vehicles, as well as all off-campus locations. An effort is currently underway to inform campus employees, patients, residents and their families, visitors to the new no tobacco use policy. These efforts include newsletters, signs and banners throughout the campus, and notification of the policy change will be included with patient education materials and employee paychecks. Support is being given to all who desire to stop smoking through smoking cessation programs, nicotine replacement products and counseling through the campus employee assistance program and the New York State Smokers Quit Line (1-866-NY-QUITS). “We know this is going to be an adjustment for some people, said Patrick Clark, director of Human Resources and Tobacco Free Taskforce Chair. “We can’t force someone to stop smoking, but we can’t accommodate their use of tobacco either.”