San Joaquin Community Hospital Bans All Smoking (even in parking lot)

[The Straight Story]

San Joaquin Community Hospital Bans All Smoking

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Officials at San Joaquin Community Hospital said their new no-smoking policy is just common sense.

After Eight months of planning, the hospital’s brand new policy has now been put into effect.

San Joaquin Community Hospital is the only hospital in Kern County to have a no-smoking policy.

Smoking will no longer be allowed on any hospital property, not even the parking lot.

http://www.turnto23.com/news/14435488/detail.html

[LaurenG]

1. It's been that way in Cincinnati for a while.

The hospital I worked out of would ticket employees for smoking in their cars and forced them off hospital property if they wanted to smoke. I think Albuquerque hospitals have had that policy for a few years now too, at least according to my sister.

[TahitiNut]

2. William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI adopted the same policy ... EXCEPT

... the signs say "Please extinguish all smoking materials before exiting your vehicles."

I therefore conclude that folks are "permitted" to smoke inside their cars.

I have to wonder how property ownership (Beaumont is private) confers such a power - assuming some coercive (police?) enforcement power. The Beaumont "campus" is huge ... many acres, the majority of which is grass and roadways, in a fairly dense and heavily trafficked suburban setting. I have to wonder what 'balance' is achieved by such a policy from the prior policy. The prior policy had a variety of "designated smoking areas" - some like bus stops - all of which were off the beaten path. Only the most insane anti-smoking jihadist would regard those folks as any threat whatsoever. Personally, I just couldn't be so hard-hearted as to deprive them whatever 'comfort' they might get from taking a smoke break if their child, spouse, or parent were undergoing trauma care or other treatment for a life-threatening condition. (Yes, even lung cancer.)

Here's a Google map of the site: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3601+W+13+Mile+Rd,+Royal+Oak,+MI+48073,+USA&ie=UTF8&ll=42.514389,-83.190622&spn=0.01017,0.015793&t=h&z=16&om=1

[The Straight Story]

4. When my mom was in the hospital, I was out side smoking with a surgeon

He said he needed a smoke break after finishing up a surgery and we joked about how we wished they had a beer machine inside :)

But hey, I am all for free choice - for a business to make their own decision.

[MADem]

6. Hospitals near me have said the same thing for awhile. NT

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Damn! What's next?

Requiring the washing of hands even after using the bathroom?

[MADem]

5. Wonder where they go to sneak a butt now? You know they do. NT

[JerseygirlCT]

7. Good. The irony of allowing smoking at a health care facility

is pretty huge.