Let’s clear the air! I am pleased to announce that as of Independence Day, July 4, 2007, Good Samaritan Hospital is officially a smoke-free/tobacco free campus.

As a leading healthcare provider in the region, we continually see the worst affects of smoking --respiratory and cardiac illnesses, strokes, heart attacks, and death.  By eliminating smoking on our campus, we are setting a strong example of good health.

Second-hand smoke can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, severe asthma, ear infections, heart disease and even lung cancer.  Additionally, it contains at least 4,000 chemical compounds, 43 of which have been shown to cause cancer in humans.

Good Samaritan Hospital is committed to providing a clean air environment for everyone who enters our facility.  

We are anticipating the concerns of our staff, physicians, patients and their family members who are smokers and tobacco users. Therefore, we are partnering with the Rockland County Board of Health and the American Lung Association to make smoking cessation programs available to provide help and support for those that are trying to quit. We will be building awareness of this program with our visitors as we approach the smoke-free/tobacco free date.  Mike Prus, Director of Respiratory is leading this initiative and has worked with a multi-disciplinary team to develop a comprehensive program that will help us achieve this important milestone.

You will be invited to participate in a special kick-off celebration on Valentine’s Day where we will detail the plan of how we can achieve this together.  The road to independence from smoking and tobacco use will involve everyone – not just smokers and tobacco users. 

This is an exciting time for the Good Samaritan community as we launch this initiative on the heels of another important advance that is dedicated to improving and saving lives – the opening of the Active International Cardiovascular Institute.  

I am confident I can count on your support as we take another huge step toward good health for everyone.

Sincerely yours,

Michael Schnieders
Executive Vice President/Administrator