Angola,Ind.– Effective July 4, 2012, smoking and the use of tobacco products will not be permitted on the campus of Cameron Memorial Community Hospital (CMCH), any CMCH owned/leased properties, or in hospital owned/leased vehicles.  “As a provider of health care in the community, we are committed to promoting and creating a healthy environment for our patients, visitors, employees, physicians and volunteers who are on our campus,” said Greg Burns, Cameron President & CEO.  “We hope that this initiative sets a positive example in the community.”

This policy will apply to all individuals working, visiting, or receiving medical care within the boundaries of the hospital property.  It also includes volunteers, physicians, vendors and contractors.  Signage is posted reminding all employees, patients and visitors of the new policy. 

It is Cameron’s mission to promote the health, well-being, and safety of its patients, visitors and employees while on the hospital campus.  Tobacco is a proven health and safety hazard, both to the tobacco user and to nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke, carrying very serious health risks.  It has been proven to be the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and is inconsistent with Cameron’s healthcare mission.

This initiative is an enhancement of Cameron’s current no-smoking policy, but extends it to all tobacco products and restricts smoking and tobacco use in cars on campus.  For those visitors who might find the policy to be difficult to comply with, Cameron will extend its support and offer free gum and hard candy which will be available at the reception desk in the lobby.

For more information, call (260) 665-2141 ext. 2337.