ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - A local hospital is now officially and completely smoke-free.
Altoona regional's smoke-free policy took effect Tuesday. There will no longer be a designated smoking area or hospital property. And Altoona regional will no longer hire anyone who uses tobacco in any form; that includes smokeless tobacco and even electronic cigarettes.
There are now almost 70 hospitals in Pennsylvania that have gone tobacco free.
Altoona Regional Marketing Director Dave Cuzzolina said as a health provider they need to be a model of healthy behaviors. He said, "Tobacco use, especially cigarette smoking, is harmful to the user's health and to those around them. Additionally, the smell of smoke on an employee may be offensive to our patients."
Altoona regional's smoke-free policy took effect Tuesday. There will no longer be a designated smoking area or hospital property. And Altoona regional will no longer hire anyone who uses tobacco in any form; that includes smokeless tobacco and even electronic cigarettes.
There are now almost 70 hospitals in Pennsylvania that have gone tobacco free.
Altoona Regional Marketing Director Dave Cuzzolina said as a health provider they need to be a model of healthy behaviors. He said, "Tobacco use, especially cigarette smoking, is harmful to the user's health and to those around them. Additionally, the smell of smoke on an employee may be offensive to our patients."
