Moss joins with DHH to become tobacco free
Louisiana -- Keeping in mind the health concerns of both patients and their employees, W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center in Lake Charles has committed to becoming 100% tobacco free.

Taking part in the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital’s Project H.E.A.L. campaign created by the Louisiana Tobacco Control Program (LTCP), Moss Regional will develop and enhance current policies that prohibit tobacco use on hospital grounds or its surrounding campus effective July 4, 2009.

“With more and more hospitals across the state showing their commitment to being tobacco free, Louisiana is moving one step closer to ridding itself of the illness of tobacco use,” said Tiffany Netters, Acting Program Manager for the LTCP.

The new LTCP campaign, named Project H.E.A.L. (Help Empower All of Louisiana), is designed to aid hospitals in rural Louisiana ease into becoming 100% tobacco free. Spread out over a twelve month period, Project H.E.A.L. details the transition and what a hospital can expect when going 100% tobacco free. Examples of the help that Moss will receive with Project H.E.A.L. include:

1. A month by month calendar outlining every stage of going tobacco free, from informing the board of directors to posting signage.
2. Employee surveys to gage the number of hospital employees who would need help with cessation.
3. A patient consent form that insures that all visitors to the hospital are accommodating with the hospital’s new tobacco policy.
4. Information cards that can be passed out to both employees and patients with information about cessation services provided by the state.
   

According to Jaime Malveaux – Moss Tobacco Free Coordinator, “There are many reasons that we have chosen to go smoke-free, but the bottom line is that, being in the healthcare industry, it is up to us to take the lead in promoting health in our community and among our employees.”

The targeting of rural hospitals by Project H.E.A.L. is part of the LTCP’s ongoing commitment as part of the Bureau of Primary Care and Rural Health to help prevent new tobacco habits from forming, help current smokers with cessation and to eliminate second-hand smoke exposure and disparities among tobacco users in Louisiana.

For more information about Project H.E.A.L., contact Jeremy Bridges, Public Information Officer for the LTCP, at 225-342-2654 or email at jbridge1@dhh.la.gov.                                                                                             

Pat robinson, m.d.
has served as Hospital Administrator of W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center since 2004. He is a native of Sulphur, Louisiana, a graduate of LSU Medical School, and a father of four.

Unveiled Oncology Art Therapy Painting

Fruits de Excelente

Artist Tony Forrest
And
Maryann Tedrick, Yatzitl Pineda, Loucinder Guidry, Jennifer Allen, Calvin Lubin, Mayona McDonald, Joseph Arnaud, Evie Tramonte, Beth Paugh, Robert Stark, Lottie Soileau, John Hudson, Meritta Citizen, Margaret Cormier, Earline Fontenot, Nicki Duhon, Tammy Pitre, Sheila Rochester-Franklin, Alberta Hardy

Donated by:  W.O. Moss Regional Service Auxiliary, Regional Physicians Network and Tony Forrest