DETROIT – Detroit Medical Center (DMC) announced Wednesday its implementation of a Nicotine-Free Hiring Policy. Effective July 1, 2012, all applicants hired will be required to complete a nicotine screening as part of their pre-placement assessment screening by Occupational Health. This policy applies to all DMC locations and job titles.
Who is impacted
The nicotine policy does not impact current employees. It only applies to those hired on or after July 1, 2012. However, current employees are encouraged to stop smoking and can take advantage of DMC smoking cessation services as well as the Michigan Department of Community Health's Tobacco Program.
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"DMC implemented a smoke-free campus policy, in partnership with several other regional health systems, back in July 2007. Once again, several of the health systems have implemented similar policies to focus on health and wellness strategies," said Deloris Hunt, Chief Human Resources Officer, Detroit Medical Center.
"The new policy also aligns us with the Vanguard Health Systems (VHS) Health for Life initiative," Hunt added.
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Health for Life initiative
The Health for Life initiative provides healthy living options that focus on nutrition, exercise, and disease management. As part of this initiative, DMC introduced the Lose2Win program in January 2012, healthier food options in its cafeterias and vending machines, and made fresh fruit and vegetables from Detroit's Eastern Market available on site at several hospitals. DMC will continue to implement strategies to improve the health of its current and future workforce. The DMC looks forward to the planned Spring 2013 opening of a Whole Foods Store in Midtown near DMC's main campus and will also help provide healthy options to employees, guests, and the community.
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Who else is involved?
DMC joins other Michigan healthcare employers, including Oakwood Healthcare System in Dearborn, Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, and Sparrow Hospital in Lansing by implementing its nicotine-free hiring policy. Health systems outside of Michigan that have adopted similar policies include Cleveland Clinic, Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio, and St. Luke's in Pennsylvania.