Heritage Valley Health System wants to make our community a healthier environment for all and reduce the risk of heart, lung and other diseases associated with smoking. As such smoking is prohibited inside any property owned or leased by Heritage Valley Health System.
Smoking Facts:
  • Leading preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S.
  • Leading cause of strokes and heart disease
  • Major cause of hospital admission
  • Number one cause of emphysema and cancer
  • Causes lung cancer

The effects on inpatients that smoke includes:

  • Slows wound healing, both surgical and traumatic
  • Longer hospital stays

Effects of second-hand smoke:

  • Increases the risk of heart disease in non-smokers
  • Cause of 7,500 to 15,000 hospital stays a year
  • Responsible for 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year

If you wish to stop smoking, there are several resources available:
PA Free Quitline at
1-877-724-1090
or
1-800-QUITNOW
1-800-807-0751 (for UPMC members)

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why is smoking not allowed in a Heritage Valley building?  
A. Reducing the use of smoking products is part of Heritage Valley Health System’s mission to improve the health and well-being of all people in the communities we serve.  
Q. Where can I smoke?  
A. Even though we request that all employees and visitors refrain from smoking at Heritage Valley Health System, if you must smoke, visitors may smoke on the sidewalks adjacent to the Heritage Valley Sewickley Campus or at the Heritage Valley Beaver Campus, off the grounds on the perimeter of the hospital campus. For the consideration of our neighbors, such individuals are expected not to loiter or cross the street to smoke near any neighborhood homes. Smoking products must be disposed of in the receptacles provided.  
Q. What if someone is smoking too close to neighboring properties?
A. Unfortunately, Heritage Valley does not have the legal ability to prohibit visitors to the hospital campuses from smoking off the hospital property. However, we have informed hospital security to ask visitors to please smoke on the perimeters of the hospital campuses. As a health system, Heritage Valley is committed to the health of our community and will continue to address the smoking situation to the best of our ability.  


OTHER RESOURCES:
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
Coalition for a Tobacco Free PA

 

Points to Ponder:
  • Tobacco use increases overall healthcare costs
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified second-hand smoke as the most toxic substance known to cause cancer in humans
  • Tobacco use and second-hand smoke worsen symptoms of asthma, allergies and bronchitis