On Feb. 1 Raritan Bay Medical Center became a completely tobacco-free campus. As a result, smoking and all tobacco products are prohibited on all hospital grounds including parking lots and garages.
The decision to convert to a tobacco free campus is part of our ongoing commitment to provide the best health care for our communities. The American Lung Association attributes tobacco use to approximately 11,000 deaths annually in New Jersey. We have determined that even though smoking has always been prohibited inside our buildings, allowing smoking elsewhere on hospital grounds runs counter to our mission of creating healthier communities. In moving to a tobacco-free campus Raritan Bay Medical Center joins several other area hospitals also going completely tobacco free as part of statewide Tobacco-Free Hospital Campus Collaborative.
We want to emphasize our support for our employees, patients and visitors who smoke or use tobacco products. A completely smoke-free environment can make quitting a little easier, and we encourage all tobacco users to consider using this opportunity to break free from tobacco use.
Raritan Bay Medical Center offers ongoing smoking-cessation programs to assist those who have made the decision to quit. For more information about these programs, call us at 732-324-5023 or visit www.rbmc.org.
Michael R. D’Agnes
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Raritan Bay
Medical Center
Old Bridge and
Perth Amboy