Beginning October 1, 2005 the entire Otis Health Care Center campus will become a smoke-free environment. The no-smoking policy will apply to all buildings and grounds, including the hospital and outpatient buildings, Heins Home, Messenger Valley Pharmacy, The Kronemeyer House, and Grace Cottage Foundation. The policy will apply to all employees, volunteers, patients, visitors, contractors and vendors while they are on the premises. Signs will be placed in appropriate places to inform everyone of the nosmoking policy.

“Nicotine is the most addictive substance known to humans,” said Dr. Maurice Geurts, “and when the Otis Health Care Center Board passed the resolution to adopt this policy at their meeting in May, they did not take this action hastily or lightly. They understood that this could present a tremendous hardship for employees, patients, and visitors who smoke. But, as a healthcare facility, we should be doing everything that we can to promote healthy lifestyles, and smoking-cessation would be at the top of that list.”

The Otis Health Care Center will be offering a free smoking-cessation program to those employees who choose to quit, and also will cover the cost of a patch or other smoking-cessation aids. “We plan to implement this policy with as much compassion for those who smoke as possible,” added Neil Pelsue, “keeping in mind that a smokefree environment will benefit those who smoke as well as those who don’t. We thank everyone in advance, including employees, patients and visitors, for their understanding, support and cooperation.”