Kentucky Hospitals Advocate for Smoke-Free Workplaces

Publication Date: 2014-12-06

• Author:Ja'Nel Johnson
• Publication:WKMS

...The Kentucky Hospital Association on Thursday announced a renewed support of smoke-free workplaces and public places throughout the state. They want all 130 hospitals in the state to adopt tobacco-free campuses.

KHA is making the call as a part of the Smoke-Free Kentucky campaign dedicated to making the state smoke-free. KHA President Michael Rust said the association's top priority is improving the health of Kentucky residents.

Kentucky has the highest smoking rate in the country at 30.2 percent, and the state's death rate from lung cancer is 46 percent higher than the national rate.

"Our member hospitals are heavily focusing on wellness, and we believe one of the real key areas in that statewide is having a smoke-free Kentucky," Rust said.

Betsy Janes, coordinator of the Smoke-Free Kentucky campaign, said some Kentucky cities have adopted smoke-free policies, but a large majority of municipalities have not...

Janes said 2015 presents a unique opportunity to get a smoke-free law approved in the state legislature since it's a non-election and non-budget year. She also said Gov. Steve Beshear is a supporter of a smoke-free bill.

"We just see sort of the stars aligning in 2015 to execute a smoke-free bill," she said...