10 hospitals vow to end smoking on campuses

PROVIDENCE – Nine institutions that are part of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island announced this month that they will make their campuses completely tobacco-free effective Nov. 20, the date of the Great American Smokeout, and a 10th hospital that is not part of HARI said it is joining the effort.
Landmark Medical Center, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, The Miriam Hospital, Newport Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island, South County Hospital and The Westerly Hospital all announced together that they would ban the use of tobacco on all hospital property.
The new policy aims to enhance the safe, clean, healthy environment expected from patients, staff and visitors, the association said in a news release.
Separately, Butler Hospital, which is not a member of HARI, went smoke-free on May 1, and fellow Care New England member Women & Infants Hospital said it will ban smoking as of Nov. 20 as well.
Smoking is already illegal inside hospitals, as it is in all public buildings and workplaces. But workers and visitors can still smoke in outdoor shelters and other areas; that will be forbidden now. &#8226