Tobacco free group honors regional hospitals
AUGUSTA — The Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network, in collaboration with the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine, held an awards ceremony at the Maine Hospital Association in Augusta on March 23.
The ceremony featured an announcement of the 2011 awardees in this year’s Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network’s Gold Star Standards of Excellence Recognition Program. At the event, 20 hospitals and eight individuals throughout the state of Maine were recognized for their achievements in advancing their campus tobacco policy and promoting tobacco-free living within their communities.
All hospitals in Maine had the opportunity to apply for the Gold Star Standards of Excellence awards at the gold, silver and bronze levels. Award levels are based on criteria such as tobacco-free campus policy, tobacco cessation being easily available to staff and patients, disallowing magazines with tobacco ads in waiting rooms and divestment of all tobacco investments. Hospitals recognized were:
• Gold Star Award winners — Calais Regional Hospital, Calais; Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington; Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth; Mercy Hospital, Portland; Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick; Miles Memorial Hospital, Damariscotta; Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Brunswick; Pen Bay Medical Center, Rockport; Spring Harbor Hospital, Westbrook; St. Andrews Hospital, Boothbay Harbor; Stephens Memorial Hospital, Norway; and The Aroostook Medical Center, Presque Isle.
• Silver Star Award winners — Cary Medical Center, Caribou; Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston; Down East Community Hospital, Machias; Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor; Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford; and The Acadia Hospital, Bangor.
• Bronze Star Award winners — St. Mary’s Health System, Lewiston; and York Hospital, York.
In addition, individuals from seven hospitals were recognized as Gold Stars for their work as wellness champions who promote and support tobacco-free lifestyles in their communities.
“As leaders in health care, Maine hospitals seek to optimize the health of patients and the surrounding community. They provide key community support and are exemplary role models in health care excellence. Tobacco-free campus policies are examples of this commitment as they benefit patients, employees and the entire community. The Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network, an initiative of the Breathe Easy Coalition of Maine, wants to recognize those hospitals that have worked hard to make their campuses 100 percent tobacco-free environments,” said Sarah Mayberry of the Maine Tobacco Free Hospital Network.
In addressing the crowd, Carol Coles from the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine (PTM), remarked, “PTM is pleased to be involved in an event and process that demonstrates the strong commitment that our Maine hospitals have toward the health of not only its patients and staff, but their families and the community as a whole. Thank you again for your support of tobacco-free initiatives and policies and for your participation in our event today. We applaud you and your efforts for creating the high standards of excellence that will serve as models for other hospitals throughout the State.”
For more information about the Maine Tobacco Free Hospital Network, please visit our website at www.mainetobaccofreehospitalnetwork.org or contact Sarah Mayberry at 874-8774.
