Bronx Hospital To Expand Employee Smoking Ban
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Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx is expanding its employee smoking ban.
Starting Wednesday, the hospital will prohibit smoking on all of its grounds.
"There is not a place anymore when we begin for people to smoke at Montefiore," said Montefiore Medical Center President Steven Safyer.
The hospital says 10 percent of its nearly 18,000 employees smoke.
Signs are already going up at Montefiore's four hospital sites as well as 100 smaller medical offices.
"We are not envisioning an ad hoc police force crushing out cigarettes," said Safyer. "We are envisioning an environment that really drives towards a culture that says smoking isn't okay especially in a healthcare institution."
Some employees who spoke with NY1 agree with the new policy saying they don't like all the puffing from co-workers.
"Sometimes they go on breaks and they say I will be right back. You know they are going downstairs to smoke and then come back on up. And you can smell it," said Physicians Assistant Jason Lewis.
Less smoking could also mean less money the hospital has to shell out for healthcare for employees who get sick from lighting up.
"This is going to have a financial benefit for us, a very important financial benefit," Safyer said.
The smoke-free campuses target employees but the hospital will encourage patients and visitors to follow the rules.
"If you get nervous and you are in a bad situation, the first thing I do is light up. Now it is going to be ridiculous to walk three blocks to light up a cigarette," said one smoker.
"I'm not supposed to be smoking any way. It is bad for your health," said another.
Montefiore says it has the right to set policy for its employees and will offer assistance to those who want to kick the habit. Smokers who consistently violate the rule will be disciplined.
The hospital's president says the policy shows how far hospitals have come from years ago.
"Pulmonologists, oncologists...they would be smoking as they made their rounds. I was guilty of that on a night or two," Safyer said.
Safyer says he quit and hopes the new policy will push employees to do the same.