HOSPITAL POLICY SNUFFS SMOKERS

Students smokers who plan to enter the medical field should kick their nicotine habit as soon as possible.
Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga are beginning to do a nicotine screen in addition to other drug tests on all new hires.

Although current employees will not be affected, new applicants who smoke cigarettes or use other nicotine products will not be hired, even if they are using gum or a patch to quit smoking. It is suggested that students who plant to enter the medical field should kick the nicotine habit as soon as possible in order to ensure a position in the medical field.

This initiative is in a effort to maintain and promote healthy living in all aspects of the hospital stated hospital representatives.

Older smokers did not have the information that younger smokers have with regard to the health problems smoking causes since several decades ago smoking was widely acceptable and there was not as many studies done. Several decades ago, smoking was commonplace, and smoking was virtually permitted in almost any public place. Although times have changed and both groups have been made aware of the health risks, the addiction can still be very hard to eliminate.

Older adults are at a disadvantage, not only have they had a longer history of nicotine addition , their mindset is different. The era they grew up in was likely unaware of the health implications related to smoking and they have been ignorant to it. That ignorance puts them at a disadvantage in today’s job market where smokers are being denied a job, at least at Memorial Hospital.

It is a fact that insurance costs are higher for individuals who smoke. The increased cost of insurance may be one of the factors that’s driving this policy change at Memorial Hospital. Even if employees paid the extra cost, eliminating smokers altogether would decrease paperwork and overall insurance costs for the hospital. .

The hospital could take into consideration the “human side” of this situation and instead of banning the smokers all together, could hire them under the condition that they would quit smoking on a time line. This way everyone would have an equal chance of employment and a chance to recover from their addiction.