Dear Trinitas Family:

As you know, Trinitas Regional Medical Center is joining with healthcare organizations across New Jersey and the nation to make a statement for good health by declaring our campuses totally tobacco-free. We have selected November 20, 2008 - the date of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout - as the day that Trinitas will begin banning tobacco use by all employees, patients and visitors on all hospital property.

We realize that this is a big step, and we want to be supportive to all involved as we undertake this effort. We are not requiring people to quit smoking, however, we are banning the use of tobacco products indoors, outdoors - anywhere on property owned or leased by Trinitas.

For employees, if you do use tobacco products, perhaps you would like to use this opportunity to quit. Trinitas is ready to help by offering any benefit eligible employee a one-time benefit that provides for up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) in reimbursement towards any smoking cessation counseling program, prescription drug reimbursement, prescription patch reimbursement, laser and/or acupuncture treatment, which the employee successfully completes. This enhanced benefit is available to actively employed benefit eligible employees who incur these costs during the six (6) month period from November 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009. To learn more about this benefit, please contact the Human Resources Department. The deadline for submission of receipts for reimbursement is May 15, 2009.

In addition, the Occupational Medicine/Employee Health Services Department is currently offering “Fresh Start,” an American Cancer Society smoking cessation program at no cost to all Trinitas employees. If you are interested, please call ext. 5726.

A Tobacco-Free Committee, chaired by Nancy DiLiegro, Vice President/Clinical Services, has developed a number of additional resources. These include a dedicated page on the Trinitas website that features a video explaining our new policy, tips for smokers looking to quit, a Question/Answer sheet to help our staff communicate this policy, and helpful links to organizations that can provide additional help for smokers. Dr. DiLiegro will announce the availability of these resources shortly. Also, within the next few days you will see signs in English and Spanish proclaiming Trinitas' upcoming tobacco-free status.

I thank you in advance for your support of this important initiative.

Sincerely,

Gary S. Horan, FACHE
President & Chief Executive Officer