AUGUSTA — The Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network, in collaboration with the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine, recently held an awards celebration at the Maine Hospital Association to recognize hospitals for taking steps to create tobacco-free hospital environments and supporting tobacco-free lifestyles for patients, staff and the community.
According to a news release, the annual celebration highlighted the efforts of 29 Maine hospitals and six hospital champions.
The Gold Star Standards of Excellence program is an opportunity for hospitals to be recognized for meeting at least six of 10 evidencebased strategies, including adopting a tobaccofree campus policy, providing readily available tobacco cessation for staff and patients, divesting from all tobacco investments and recommending community lodging that is smoke-free.
“By meeting these standards, hospitals all across Maine, both urban and rural, have taken critical steps to provide a healthier environment by addressing the leading cause of preventable disease and death — tobacco use,” said Sarah Mayberry of the Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network.
More than half of the participating hospitals met all 10 gold star standards, with 10 being recognized at the silver level and two receiving bronze awards.
The 2012 Gold Star Standards of Excellence recognized hospitals were:
— Gold Level Award Winners: Calais Regional Hospital, Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital, Cary Medical Center, Down East Community Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Franklin Memorial Hospital, Houlton Regional Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Miles Memorial Hospital, Pen Bay Medical Center, Penobscot Valley Hospital, Southern Maine Medical Center, Spring Harbor Hospital, St. Andrews Hospital, Stephens Memorial Hospital, Aroostook Medical Center, Waldo County General Hospital.
— Silver Level Award Winners: Goodall Hospital, Mayo Regional Hospital, Mid Coast Hospital, Millinocket Regional Hospital, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Northern Maine Medical Center, Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Sebasticook Valley Health, St. Mary’s Health System, York Hospital.
— Bronze Level Award Winners: Inland Hospital, Maine Medical Center.
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