PROMEDICA TO LAUNCH TOBACCO-FREE HIRING PRACTICE

IMMEDIATE Contact: Tedra White
Office: 419.469.3716
Cell: 419.262.0371
Website: www.promedica.org


TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 23, 2010 – Effective January 1, 2011, ProMedica Health System will implement the practice of hiring only tobacco-free employees in order to foster a healthier workforce, as well as to demonstrate to patients and the community its strong commitment to health and wellness.

ProMedica’s new job application will ask candidates about their tobacco use. If they declare they do not use tobacco but their post-offer screening is positive, they will not be hired. Applicants who declare tobacco use, as well as those who do not pass the screening, may reapply for a position after 90 days.

States Randy Oostra, DM, FACHE, president and chief executive officer, ProMedica, “We are proud to be among the first employers in our region to implement this practice; other large healthcare systems throughout the U.S. have implemented similar policies successfully. This decision supports ProMedica’s commitment to improving the health of those we serve by asking our employees to model and benefit from the healthy behaviors we promote to our patients and communities.”

ProMedica’s new tobacco-free hiring practice also is aligned with the nonprofit organization’s other efforts to support good health among its employees, including ongoing ProMedica Employee Wellness Program activities, expanded healthy food options in all of its hospital cafeterias and vending machines, and benefit incentives for employees’ participation in specified wellness activities.

ProMedica offers its employees and the public free tobacco cessation resources, and urges individuals who choose to quit tobacco use to partner with their physician to determine which treatment option may work best for them.

For more information, visit www.promedica.org.

ProMedica Health System, a mission-based organization that is ranked among the Top 5 most integrated health systems in the U.S., was formed in 1986 and is a Toledo, Ohio-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization with more than 14,000 employees; 3,000 physicians and more than 306 facilities in Ohio and Michigan. ProMedica serves more than 2.73 million patients annually and includes 11 hospitals; ProMedica Continuum Services with senior, hospice, rehabilitation, and integrative services; ProMedica Physician Group, a network of more than 315 primary care and specialty physicians; and Paramount Health Care, the largest HMO in northwest Ohio. For more information, please visit www.promedica.org.

###

© 2010 ProMedica Health System