Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
Lovell FHCC will be a Smoke Free Campus on Oct. 1, 2019
In the interest of protecting the safety and health of the entire FHCC community, our campus will be smoke-free beginning Oct. 1, 2019. This action is prompted by VHA Directive 1085 , which requires all VHA health care facilities to be smoke-free for patients, visitors, contractors, volunteers, and vendors, and employees, effective that 10-1-2019. The policy applies to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or any other combustion of tobacco, including but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens or e-cigars.
There is overwhelming evidence that smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke creates significant medical risks, and a growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to thirdhand smoke creates additional risks to safety and direct patient care. We are not alone in recognizing the importance of creating a smoke-free campus: As of 2014, 4,000 health care facilities and four national health care systems in the U.S. have implemented smoke-free grounds, including some DOD and VHA facilities that have voluntarily taken this important step
Our Navy personnel are already prohibited from smoking on the FHCC campus, based on Department of Defense policies. The smoke-free policy will impact all VA staff at the FHCC by Oct. 8, based on labor management negotiations that occurred at the national level. American Federal of Government Employees (AFGE) members will adhere to Directive 1085.01 as written to be smoke free by October 1, 2019. National Nurses United (NNU)/National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) has a 60-day notice, so these employees will be smoke free October 8, 2019. All other VA staff members are expected to be smoke-free on Oct. 1.
Smoking is not an easy addiction to overcome, but quitting can and does save lives. Whether you are a smoker, or care for patients who are smokers, the FHCC has many multiple smoking cessation resources available, and we will be promoting them very strongly over the next few months. However, we will still need everyone’s help to spread the word about these support services to colleagues and patients: Local smoking cessation resources include:
- Group cessation classes are available to all VA and TRICARE beneficiaries, call 224-610-5788.
- Employee Health offers smoking cessation counseling for VA civilian staff, call ext. 224-610-4215.
- Fisher Clinic (Dental) in Building 237 on Naval Station Great Lakes offers a smoking cessation program for active duty members, call 847-688-3331.
- FHCC’s main pharmacy in Bldg. 133EF has a walk-in counseling program for all TRICARE beneficiaries.
- Health Promotion Coordinator can set-up on-site tobacco cessation seminars for all FHCC and Naval Station Great Lakes units and offices, call 224-610-0801
- Veterans Quitline at 1-855-784-8838 provides live smoking cessation support from 8 a.m – 8 p.m. CST, M-F with voicemail on weekends
- Military/Veteran online quit program at https://tricare.mil/ucanquit2 offers support via live chats
This policy change is consistent with our mission to promote a healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff as an important element of improving our health care system, and it is consistent with the industry standard of care for patients. It’s the right thing to do to help ensure a healthy future for all. Thank you in advance for your understanding, and for your willingness to work together towards a healthier FHCC.
Our primary Smoke Free Campus POCs are Mr. David Reid, David.Reid@va.gov, and Ms. Diana Johnson-Grimmer, Diana.JohnsonGrimmer@va.gov. Please contact them if you have additional questions.
