LIMA — Being tobacco-free will now be a condition of hiring at the city’s two hospitals.

Beginning Jan. 1, human resources directors of Lima Memorial Health System and St. Rita’s Medical Center jointly announced Wednesday the hospitals will hire only employees who do not use tobacco.

The policy does not apply to current employees, but those employees will be offered smoking cessation supports. The policies differ slightly. At LMHS, applicants will test for tobacco use as part of pre-employment drug screening. St. Rita’s will not routinely test, but failing to report correct information on an application could be grounds for firing.

Hospitals are leading the way with this policy, said Jennifer Vantilburgh, St. Rita’s HR director. In Ohio, the Cleveland Clinic, with other hospitals in the Toledo, Lorain and Youngstown area, have already implemented such policies.
Vantilburgh and LMHS HR Director Tillie Schiffler said as healthcare providers, employees understand the benefits to themselves, patients and the community. Legally, employers have the right to set terms of employment, they said.
“It’s the right thing to do. Being healthcare providers, we believe it was our responsibility to set the standard,” Vantilburgh said. “Smoking is not illegal, but we have the right to make this decision. We don’t think it will negatively impact candidates. It’s clear up front. If smokers have a strong desire to work for one of these organizations, they’ll have the opportunity to through cessation and be hired.”
The policy is a logical next step for both hospitals after each set campus-wide no-smoking policies, Vantilburgh and Schiffler said.

St. Rita’s and Lima Memorial keep in touch with regular meetings and they realized they were both considering the option.

“Approaching this as a team, we wanted to show the community we support this initiative and be leaders in the community on the issue,” Schiffler said. “Healthy lifestyle is important. We know the negative impacts of tobacco. We believe it’s important to take this positive stand. This is part of overall wellness programs.”

Wow, this is stupid. I'd rather have a good doctor who smokes than a bad doctor.

Then don't use thoe hospitals. Employers making not smoking a requirement for employment isn't a new thing people.

Then don't use thoe hospitals. Employers making not smoking a requirement for employment isn't a new thing people.

A lot of good candidates will be excluded when you have extraneous criteria. If you stop hiring black doctors because people don't like to look at them, you'd have the same result.

You don't typically have a choice on whether or not to use a hospital. You'd have to choose a different area to live in if you wanted to avoid this.

Sure is, but it's up to the employer to make these decisions. Not to mention the fact that you can't quit being black.

I think we are arguing different things. I agree with you that employers should be able to decide. I am just saying I think this particular decision is a bad idea.

Not to mention the fact that you can't quit being black.

With rising insurance costs, and thses hospitals likely footing the bill for their doctors coverage, I disagree.

They are not just mandating the working conditions but also your way of life, is that really a precedence you guys want to set?

Quite frankly, yes it is the precedent people want set. The American people are not the freedom-loving independent citizens that we are advertised as.