EJGH and WJMC Announce Facilities Will Be Tobacco-Free

Starting February 12, 2012, both campuses will be 100% tobacco-free.

As you know, East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH) and West Jefferson Medical Center (WJMC) are committed to improving the health and well-being of our patients, team members, and community. In helping to celebrate the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, EJGH and WJMC are proud to announce that as of February 12, 2012, our properties will become 100% tobacco-free. This means there will no longer be any smoking allowed on-campus. The existing designated smoking areas at both hospitals will be removed.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in Jefferson Parish and may contribute to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and COPD, to name a few. As healthcare professionals, we should model healthy behavior for our patients and guests. We also have a responsibility to provide a healthy, safe environment for our team members, volunteers, and physicians who work here. Many health care organizations across the country have implemented tobacco-free campuses and seen resulting improvements in worker productivity, decreased healthcare costs, and an overall improvement in health and quality of life.

We thank the community in advance for their cooperation in making East Jefferson General Hospital and West Jefferson Medical Center tobacco-free campuses.