CONTACT: Teresa Fletcher, 410-871-6979
TeresaF@CarrollHospitalCenter.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Westminster, Md. – (November 12, 2007) — Carroll Hospital Center was one of the first hospitals in the state to commit to a Smoke-Free & Tobacco-Free Campus policy in 1998. And nearly 10 years later — in conjunction with the upcoming statewide smoking ban in bars and restaurants to be implemented in early 2008 — Carroll Hospital Center is re-committing to its landmark policy of being a Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Campus Environment.

“A hospital is a vital and central component of the communities it serves. As a health care institution, it is important that we educate and model healthy behaviors,” said John Sernulka, president and CEO of Carroll Hospital Center. “With this in mind, re-implementation of our Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Campus Environment policy sends a clear message to our patients, visitors, staff and community members that we are committed to sustaining health in our community. Additionally, a smoke- and tobacco-free campus environment policy encourages people to quit tobacco use.”

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 600,000 people in the U.S. will die of cancer in 2007. And with smoking ranked as one of the leading preventable causes of death in the U.S., Carroll Hospital Center firmly believes its re-commitment is essential in helping people maintain the highest attainable level of good health throughout their lives.

The smoke- and tobacco-free policy prohibits use of tobacco products by all employees, physicians, visitors, patients, volunteers, vendors and medical staff anywhere on the hospital campus and on all property owned by Carroll Hospital Center.

Carroll Hospital Center will officially recognize its re-commitment in conjunction with the annual American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out on Thursday, November 15.

Carroll Hospital Center, founded in 1961 as Carroll County General Hospital, is a nonprofit, acute care facility offering a continuum of services, including comprehensive inpatient, outpatient and community programs.

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