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Stop-smoking efforts among nation's best

BUCYRUS -- Randy Myers can offer a testimonial to the smoking cessation program at Bucyrus Community Hospital.

So, he agrees with The Joint Commission, which chose the program as one of the 10 best in the nation.

"I smoked for 40 years and was able to quit two years ago because of the help I received from this program," Myers said. "The team came to General Mills, where I worked, and offered the classes and aides.

"I used the nicotine patches and lozenges that were given to me through the program, but the support I received from them was amazing and very helpful."

The program spurred the facility to become the first tobacco-free hospital campus in Ohio on June 17, 2004.

"We were contacted by The Joint Commission in June. They accredit our hospital. We had filled out an online survey for them and they wanted to know more about our smoking cessation program," said Tami Wolfe, a spokeswoman for the hospital. "They were very intrigued by our program."

After 180 interviews with hospitals around the country, BCH was selected along with nine other facilities.

"They sent representatives to the hospital and we presented them with a lot of information about our policies, implementation and enforcement," Wolfe said. "We are very proud to have been chosen."

The smoking cessation program is funded by a grant through the Ohio Department of Health.

"We are always looking for grants to fund the program and recently received word that we will be receiving a grant for dental needs for our program participants. Smoking causes a lot of dental problems, such as gum disease," said tobacco treatment specialist Radenna Burkhart. "We will be implementing the grant through a partnership with the Third Street Dental Clinic in Mansfield."

The smoking cessation program is open to anyone who wants to quit smoking.

"We are a small, rural hospital, yet we are in the top 10 in the nation for this study. We are unique for this area and have doctors from surrounding areas -- such as Tiffin, Marion and Delaware -- inquiring about our program," said Carrie Betts, another tobacco treatment specialist. "We have also presented the program in 27 different counties since December of 2008."

The program's team is gearing up for the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19.

"We will be offering free pizza and various activities in the front lobby of the hospital that day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m." said Theresa Hensley, tobacco treatment specialist coordinator. "Also, people can drop off their cigarettes, cigars, pipes or ashtrays that day to try to quit smoking.

"Since it is close to Thanksgiving, our theme is 'Don't Go Cold Turkey.'"

Myers recommends the program to anyone trying to quit smoking.

"I started out smoking cigarettes, then cigars and ended up smoking a pipe. I was able to quit with their help," Myers said. "It's a really good program. If it can help others like it did me, then I am all for it."