"North Carolina will pass a major health milestone next week," said Dr. Meg Molloy, President and CEO of NC Prevention Partners. "We are leading the nation in tobacco-free hospitals and, with these policies in place, millions of hospital patients, visitors and employees will be protected from exposure to harmful secondhand smoke. Hospitals are natural health leaders and are setting the pace for healthy communities in North Carolina."
Prevention Partners said it's been working with hospitals to get the no smoking policies approved. Funding for the project came from a grant from The Duke Endowment and in partnership with the NC Hospital Association.
"By going 100% tobacco-free campus wide, our hospitals have taken a bold step to improve the health of every patient, visitor and employee," said William Pully, President of the NC Hospital Association.
"This project has continued to bring real results and serves as a national model," said Mary Piepenbring, Vice President at the Duke Endowment.
