Tobacco-Free Policies
A tobacco-free hospital is defined as having a written and posted policy that prohibits employees, patients, vendors, contractors and visitors from using any tobacco products anywhere on the property of the medical facility, including sidewalks, walkways, driveways and parking lots under the hospital's ownership or control.
Establishing a tobacoo-free environment in hospitals sets a clear example of good health practices; puts employees, patients and visitors first by providing a healthy, tobacco-free atmosphere; results in lower clean-up costs; encourages both employees and patients to quit tobacco use and lowers long-term health care costs.
Many hospitals across Ohio have already implemented policies to make their campuses tobacco-free. View a list of tobacco-free hospitals in Ohio.
If your hospital is looking to go tobacco-free, OHA has compiled a list of useful resources to help you in the process of eliminating tobacco from your campus.
OHA Media Statement - President Barack Obama FFY 2013 Budget
February 15, 2012:
Earlier this week President Barack Obama’s administration released the FFY 2013 federal budget spending and policy targets. The package proposes a total of $364 billion in health savings over ten years, including $268 billion in Medicare provider cuts and $51 billion in Medicaid cuts. After review of this budget, OHA has made this initial statement:
“Ohio hospitals strongly believe all critical aspects of the health care system must be adequately supported, without undercutting some segments to provide for others. In the federal budget proposal submitted by President Obama, programs that provide training for future physicians, assure access to care in rural communities and support health care for the low-income seniors, families and children are all put at risk. As Congress begins to review this budget and addresses more immediate concerns with physician payment cuts, unemployment compensation and payroll taxes, hospitals welcome the opportunity to demonstrate how proposed budget cuts could have unintended consequences of health care job losses and reduced access to care,” said Mike Abrams, president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association.
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