Corpus Christi Medical Center Adopts a Tobacco-Free Policy

Sept. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- As of September 1, 2010, Corpus Christi Medical Center  (CCMC) is a tobacco-free environment.   While the use of tobacco products has been prohibited inside of the buildings of CCMC for years, this new policy prohibits the use of tobacco products anywhere on the property of CCMC for employees, physicians, patients, and visitors.

In keeping with our mission to improve the health of our communities, Corpus Christi Medical Center is committed to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment for our employees, physicians, patients and visitors.  To support this commitment, and in response to studies that indicate that the use of tobacco is a leading cause of preventable illness and premature death, Corpus Christi Medical Center has committed to a tobacco-free environment.  The buildings, grounds and parking lots on each of the Corpus Christi Medical Center hospitals are now tobacco-free.

“At Corpus Christi Medical Center, we are honored to be entrusted with the health and well -being of the community,” said Ed Lamb, Chief Executive Officer at Corpus Christi Medical Center. “It is very exciting to take this important step toward a healthier environment for our patients, visitors – for all of us.”

According to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoke is harmful to nearly every organ of the body and is the major single cause of cancer mortality in the United States.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that in 2000 about 8.6 million people had at least one chronic disease because they smoked or had smoked. Many of these people were suffering from more than one smoking-related problem. The diseases seen most often were chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart attacks, strokes, and cancer. These diseases can steal away a person's quality of life long before death. Smoking-related illness can limit a person's daily life by making it harder to breathe, get around, work, or play.  To learn more about the effects of tobacco, please visit www.cancer.org.

About Corpus Christi Medical Center
As a sign of commitment of quality improvement and efficiency, Corpus Christi Medical Center has received the Texas Health Care Quality Achievement Award. Corpus Christi Medical Center has been a growing part of South Texas since 1962.  What began as a 26-bed facility in the early 60s has grown into a 583-bed system offering a full range of health care services with outstanding clinical care, superior technological care and comforting and reassuring personal care. Corpus Christi Medical Center includes four hospitals: Doctors Regional, Bay Area, The Heart Hospital and Northwest.  Visit www.ccmedicalcenter.com .

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Corpus Christi Medical Center is a Health Care System with four hospitals: Bay Area, Doctors Regional, The Heart Hospital, and Northwest Regional. For more information, visit www.ccmedicalcenter.com.