Seven Steps To Tobacco-Free

Moving to a tobacco-free environment takes planning, time, and incremental implementation. Not every hospital or health system will start their tobacco-free efforts the same way, or in the same place. With input from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), MHA developed seven steps hospitals can take to become tobacco-free. These steps are important building blocks for the successful implementation of an organization's tobacco-free policy, as such MHA recognizes hospitals and health systems for accomplishing each of the seven steps and for becoming tobacco-free. Below is a pie chart showing the percentage of hospitals in Massachusetts that have self-reported taking each step and MHA is honored to recognize these hospitals for their achievement.

1.) Established Committee or Workgroup

• Include representation from multiple areas including Senior Management, Administration, facilities, client services, HR, medical staff, communications/community relations, and tobacco users
• Schedule regular meetings to develop an implementation plan with a specific date to be completely tobacco-free.Committee should provide monthly/quarterly reports to senior management along with an internal email/newsletter update
• Complete within the first month of the initiative

2.) Board approved tobacco-free policy with a specific implementation date

• Assess current tobacco/smoking policies and create a tobacco-free policy with clearly defined goals and dates for implementation that will enable the smooth transition
• Review draft policy with legal counsel, union rep, and other key stakeholders
• Present action plan to board for input and approval
• Make necessary changes to policy
• Complete within 2-5 months
• Resources for Tobacco-Free Policy Implementation 

3.) Internal and external communication and countdown

• Develop internal/external communications plan, signage, and collateral
  • Use the MHA Tobacco-Free Communication Tool Kit
• Inform staff of policy and implementation date and timeline
  • Draft Frequently Asked Questions
  • Explain reasons for going tobacco-free and the effects on staff
  • Address possible concerns of staff
• Reach out to the community with preliminary policy plans and keep media informed as benchmarks are met
• Complete within 6-8 months

4.) Smoking cessation and support programs for patients, staff, and the community

• Inform staff, patients and community members that the hospital is tobacco-free and tobacco use of any kind will not be permitted anywhere on the campus.
  • Upon admittance, ask patients and/or visitors if they use tobacco products and offer cessation resources and tobacco-abatement products.
• Develop a tobacco cessation program that includes: 
  • Information on self-help cessation resources
  • Pharmaceutical cessation aids to patients and staff 
  • Individual and group counseling services
  • Reimbursement included in employee benefits
  • Community-based cessation programs
    • QuitWorks - Free telephone counseling (1-800-QUITNOW)
• Begin as soon initiative is publicized and complete within 8-10 months of starting
• Visit MHA's Tobacco Cessation Resources page
  • BPHC Briefing: Tobacco-Free Hospital Policies 
  • Cessation Benefit Fact Sheet: Boston Public Health Commission
• Systems for identifying, treating and an referring patients for help
  • QuitWorks -  a provider fax or electronic referral program to the state’s quitline
    

5.) Staff trained and support systems created

• Train staff to address the needs of patients and visitors dependent on tobacco products
  • Policy enforcement tactics and procedures
  • Referrals to counseling or cessation programs
• Implement programs to aid patients and visitors with cessation
• Establish enforcement policies
• Complete within 10-11 months
• Learn about best practices and overcoming common challenges from your peers!
  Friday, March 25
  The Next Evolution of Smoke-Free Campuses: Managing a Tobacco-Free Environment 
  Conference Center at Waltham Woods

6.) Signage and other collateral

• Walk through the campus and decide where signs will be placed
• Print brochures, table tents, and posters detailing the tobacco-free policy and key changes
  • MHA Tobacco-Free Logo
• Print materials detailing cessation resources available to patients and staff
• Complete within 11-12 months

7.) Implementation, publicity, enforcement, and feedback

• Remove ash receptacles and update signage on campus
• Publically celebrate implementation day with community members and local media
  • Share and celebrate positive stories of employee success with cessation
• Post enactment:
  • Talk with staff and patients to gain feedback about the policy
  • Schedule ongoing meetings to assess the effectiveness of the policy
  • Make necessary changes to policy
• Share Success Stories
  • Please let us know if you would like to share your hospital's story!

Click here for the pdf verzion of the Seven Steps to Tobacco-Free.