Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) is implementing a tobacco-free campus, effective Nov. 15, 2007, a date that coincides with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout®.

Associate CEO John Kristel, who is leading the initiative, hopes the new policy will provide an opportunity for patients, visitors and employees to quit smoking.

PMMC currently prohibits smoking inside the building however, the new policy will go one step further by banning the use of all tobacco products on the entire campus, both inside and outside. There will therefore be no designated smoking areas whatsoever and the ban will be in effect at all satellite locations of PMMC as well.

Research shows that smoking rates decrease when smoking bans are in place. The goal of this program is not only to make the entire PMMC campus tobacco-free, but also to help all employees with smoking cessation and subsequently, actively assist all tobacco-addicted patients who are admitted.

PMMC offers Freedom from Smoking, a seven-week smoking cessation program led by a certified tobacco treatment specialist.

To learn more, call 610-327-7594 or visit our website at www.PottstownMemorial.com.