GUEST EDITORIAL: Samaritan Healthcare campuses are tobacco free

MOSES LAKE - As part of the Samaritan Healthcare mission to provide health care services that improve the well-being of the people of our community, in May of 2011 the Board of Commissioners decided to make all campuses of Samaritan Healthcare "tobacco free."

Since June, a task force of employees has been working on the project. The task force consists of smokers, non-smokers and individuals that represent all aspects of hospital life.

We are proud to announce that Samaritan Healthcare will go "tobacco free" on Nov. 17. This coincides with the American Cancer Society's Annual Great American Smoke-Out and includes Samaritan Hospital and the Pioneer Medical Center.

The facilities themselves have been smoke free for some time and it is time to include all properties to encourage the health and well-being of our patients, families and visitors. Hospital patients are offered aids such as patches and gum to ease tobacco withdrawal symptoms.

The health benefits of stopping smoking are well known. They include a decrease in lung problems, heart problems and improved healing and circulation after surgery which also results in a faster recovery.

Thank you for helping us be tobacco free.