Providence Hospital Announces Snub on Smokers, Tobacco Users

The state’s largest private employer will no longer hire people who smoke or use tobacco products of any kind.

Tools

By Lauren Maxwell
Bio | Email

Story Created: Nov 4, 2011 at 10:37 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Nov 4, 2011 at 10:37 AM AKDT

The state’s largest private employer has taken what many see as a bold move. Providence Health Care Systems says it will no longer hire people who smoke or use tobacco products of any kind.

Hospital officials have been considering the move for over a year but say they finally decided the time was right to set an example for good health. And while the change is perfectly legal, it has raised some questions among current employees who smoke.

“A lot of our employees were obviously concerned, “ says Tammy Green, manager of Providence Employee Health Systems. “They worried about what we were going to do next and whether it would impact them. There is no impact to current employees. What we hope is that for employees who do use tobacco products this might be the nudge they need to do something different.”

Green says starting Nov. 17, Providence will add nicotine to the list of substances screened in drug tests that are required for all new employees.

The tests will pick up all forms of tobacco, including nicotine gum and patches used by those trying to quit smoking.

Green says they struggled with the rules when it came to those who are trying to quit.

In the end, the hospital decided it would be too difficult to monitor and decided who was actively smoking and who was using weaning products, which is why it made the blanket ban on all types of nicotine.

“I certainly can understand that people think this is Big Brother,” says Green. “But if you look at health care costs, the number one preventable cause of death and disease in our country is tobacco use.”

Green says the policy should not only save money on employee health care costs, but should set a healthy example for the entire community.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

typical said on Monday, Nov 7 at 7:26 PM

just another "pc" move to gather more "support". Where does it stop? I'd like to see them no hire overweight people too. They tend to run up the medical bills just like the smokers. I don't care for smokers or fat people but people can live how they wish!

76582934
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

calling aclu said on Saturday, Nov 5 at 12:51 PM

people that dont smoke but live with a smoker/s will test positive on a tobbaco blood test and letting the current smokers smoke is bs and a joke.

76483308
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.