Baptist Health Care and Sacred Heart Health System, both based in Pensacola, Fla., will both stop hiring tobacco users Jan. 1, 2014.
Both systems recently worked with the Partnership for a Healthy Community on assessing health in their surrounding areas. The assessment showed gloomy statistics on tobacco use, obesity and health management, according to the news release, and Baptist and SHHS leaders agreed their organizations would not hire tobacco users to promote health in the community.
"I feel confident that this is a change in the right direction for our team members. As healthcare providers we need to provide an environment that supports and encourages health and wellness to improve the quality of life in our community," Mark Faulkner, president and CEO of Baptist Health Care, said in the release.
"As healthcare providers we need to set the example for our community and demonstrate healthy living habits," Susan Davis, Sacred Heart Health System president and CEO, agreed in the release. "This effort by the two hospitals will go a long way in creating a better experience for our patients and visitors."
Current employees at BHC and SHHS will not be affected by the new policy, and the two systems will continue to offer tobacco cessation assistance to their employees.
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