David Inman, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services at WCGH, receives the gold award from Sarah Mayberry of the Breathe Easy Coalition.
At an awards ceremony on September 15 at the Maine Hospital Association in Augusta, Maine, the Breathe Easy Coalition of Maine celebrated the efforts of Maine hospitals to address smoking and tobacco use on their campuses. The event highlighted the 2016 Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program award winners including Waldo County General Hospital. Thirty-three Maine hospitals and four individual champions were recognized for their achievements in advancing their organization’s smoke and tobacco-free policies as well as promoting tobacco-free lifestyles in their communities.
“Hospitals are health and wellness role models for their communities, so it is important for them to set an example around reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke,” said Sarah Mayberry of the Breathe Easy Coalition. “The Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Maine hospitals to create policies to address these issues.”
The annual Gold Star Standards of Excellence program recognizes healthcare organizations for their efforts to address best practice standards around tobacco use, exposure and quitting supports. Waldo County General Hospital was recognized at the gold level in the 2016 program.
Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the country and a major contributor to healthcare costs. “Meeting these standards requires hard work and commitment from these healthcare organizations, and the Breathe Easy Coalition of Maine is pleased to be able to honor their dedication,” said Mayberry.