News Releases

Seasons of Change: A Breath of Fresh Air for Katy Area Hospitals

Hospitals Team Up with Healthcare Partnership for a Tobacco Free Environment

Houston, Texas, November 4, 2005 – There will be a breath of fresh air, as Memorial Hermann Katy and CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital in Katy announced today that each facility will become a tobacco-free environment by January 1, 2006. The announcement was made in conjunction with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, an annual event held every November in order to encourage smokers to snuff out their nicotine needs.

“Smoking has become a hot-button issue in regards to public policy and because of the many risk factors associated with the use of tobacco products, we feel it is our responsibility and duty as health care providers to be a role model for the community in eliminating tobacco use in the workplace,” said Sheila Fata, administrator, CHRISTUS St. Catherine. “Because of our dedication to the well-being of our associates, we will be implementing several initiatives to support our employees in that effort, including smoking cessation workshops and the like.” “At CHRISTUS St. Catherine we believe that our associates and community can work together to snuff out this deadly habit,” she added.

“As the healthcare provider that champions breakthroughs, Memorial Hermann is proud to support this breakthrough for the people of the Katy/West Houston area,” said Scott Barbe, chief executive officer, Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital. “We’re dedicated to protecting and supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community – and we believe it’s appropriate to ‘walk the talk’.  Smoking is a recognized health hazard and permitting it on our grounds is inconsistent with what Memorial Hermann stands for.”

As of January 1, 2006, tobacco use of any kind will be prohibited inside and outside Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital. This will include areas previously dedicated for employee or guest smoking. Beginning November 17, both hospitals will also offer smoking cessation seminars as well as smoking cessation aids, such as nicotine patches and gum for program participating employees.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 440,000 deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in direct medical costs. Environmental Tobacco Smoke contains at least 250 chemicals known to be toxic or cause cancer. Unfortunately, the general public’s exposure to secondhand smoke is much higher than most people realize.

The widespread practice of smoking in buildings exposes nonsmokers to hazardous by-products under conditions where removal of the airborne toxins is slow. Over the past two decades, medical science has shown that nonsmokers suffer many of the diseases of active smokers when they breathe secondhand smoke. It is for these reasons that health care organizations are among the first to ask those who smoke to kick the habit.

Support for the Partnership for a Tobacco Free environment includes highly respected organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Hospital Association and the American Lung Association. The initiative is congruent with the national health goal issued by the U.S. Surgeon General to cut adult smoking to 12 percent by the year 2010.

For more information, contact Media Relations.