Smoking Health Care Workers Not Wanted

July 5, 2005 — -- For some, one of the more disturbing sights upon entering a hospital is health care workers having a smoke break just steps from the hospital doors.

Now, the Cleveland Clinic is launching a tough new campaign that means employees caught smoking on the property could lose their jobs.

"Our policy is very simple," says Dr. Derek Raghavan, chairman and director of the Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center. "You cannot smoke on Cleveland Clinic premises. Not on the grounds. Not in the hospital. Not in the toilets. Nowhere."

That's harsh news for nearly a quarter of the clinic's 33,000 workers who smoke, not to mention for patients and their visitors.

While TV dad Ricky Ricardo and countless other dads waiting outside delivery rooms have lit up to calm their nerves, those days are over. In the spirit of practicing what they preach, more than 100 hospitals across the country have banned smoking anywhere on hospital property and the number is growing.

"They're taking away patient's rights and employees rights to come out and smoke," said one employee of the Cleveland Clinic. "We're not harming anything."

"I shouldn't be smoking as a health care professional -- a role model," said a Cleveland doctor. "I shouldn't be smoking and I want to quit. I think most smokers want to quit deep down inside. It's just really difficult to do."

The clinic is offering help with nicotine patches, hypnosis and support groups.

"It's kind of a double standard because we're telling our patients you shouldn't do it," one hospital employee said.