By Scott Harvey
Commerce – The Hunt County Regional Medical Center is seeking the support of its Greenville and Commerce campus in helping to regulate it's no smoking initiative.
Hospital District CEO Richard Carter came before the Commerce City Council last week, requesting the passage of an ordinance that would ban smoking at the Hunt Regional Community Hospital campus.
In June, Hospital District Board of Directors approved a plan to prohibit smoking on all its properties effective Jan 1, 2009. Areas currently open to smoking, such as surrounding and adjacent grounds as well as on-site parking areas will no longer be allowed next year. To help facilitate the ban, hospitals in August began providing a smoking cessation program to all employees who use tobacco.
With the passage of an ordinance from the City, according to Carter, the District would be assured an authoritative figure to deal with patients and or visitors not willing to comply with the hospitals no smoking policy.
Carter hopes both the Commerce and Greenville City Councils are able to pass no smoking ordinances by the first of the year.