Gold Star Standards of Excellence
As leaders in health care, Maine hospitals seek to optimize the health of patients and the surrounding community. They provide key community support and are exemplary role models of health care excellence. Tobacco-free campus policies are examples of this commitment that benefits patients, employees, and the entire community. The Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network, an initiative of the Breathe Easy Coalition of Maine wants to recognize those hospitals that have worked hard to make their campus a 100% tobacco-free environment.
10 Point Policy Plan/Standards of Excellence
- The hospital campus is 100% tobacco-free. Tobacco use by staff, patients, and visitors is prohibited at all times in and on the hospital’s property including in cars, in parking lots, at all satellite sites or other properties the hospital owns and rents, including off-site meetings and conferences. (“Tobacco” refers to cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew, cigars, pipes, non-FDA approved nicotine delivery systems [electronic cigarettes].)
- Written policies and procedures that communicate and reinforce such policies on tobacco exist and are reviewed at least annually and as needed.
- Appropriate signage is posted at key locations including entrances to the grounds and buildings.
- Information about tobacco use and treatment, secondhand smoke, and local and statewide resources are readily available to patients, staff, and visitors.
- Advertising or promotion of tobacco products is not allowed on the hospital’s campus or satellite facilities. This includes hospital publications and magazines subscribed to by the hospital for their waiting rooms.
- Clinical services are available for any patient needing/desiring assistance for nicotine withdrawal symptoms and/or quitting, including evidence-based medications.
- The hospital supports education and training on tobacco use and treatment for employees.
- Tobacco treatment services are available for employees. For insured employees and dependents, benefits include coverage of counseling and medication therapy for quitting tobacco, with minimal, or no, barriers to utilization (co-pays, out of pocket costs, limits).
- Hospital recommended lodging highlights smoke-free establishments.
- The hospital refuses all donations from the tobacco industry, and divests itself of all tobacco company stock.
MTFHN Gold Star Standards of Excellence Application
The application for the 2013 Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network Gold Star Standards of Excellence program will be released in spring 2012 to provide Maine hospitals with ample time to make changes and prepare to be highlighted at the highest possible level in the program.
MTFHN Gold Star Standards of Excellence Awardees
The following hospitals have shown their commitment to maintaining a healthy environment and protecting their employees, patients, and visitors from secondhand smoke by implementing tobacco-free policies on their campus. We congratulate their efforts and have awarded them the following Gold Star Standard of Excellence award.
2012
The 2012 Gold Star Standards of Excellence program saw the highest level of participation yet from Maine hospitals, with nearly 75% (29 hopsitals) participating. Interested hospitals submitted information on how they met six or more of the ten policy standards and were recognized at an event on March 23rd at the Maine Hospital Association in Augusta. Each hospital received a plaque to celebrate their successes, view photos here. Learn more about the 2012 program by reviewing the Network's press release and program booklet.
Gold: 10 Stars
Calais Regional Hospital, Calais
Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital, Greenville
Cary Medical Center, Caribou
Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor
Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington
Houlton Regional Hospital, Houlton
Mercy Hospital, Portland
Miles Memorial Hospital, Damariscotta
Penobscot Valley Hospital, Lincoln
Pen Bay Medical Center, Rockport
Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford
Spring Harbor Hospital, Westbrook
St. Andrews Hospital, Boothbay Harbor
Stephens Memorial Hospital, Norway
The Aroostook Medical Center, Presque Isle
Waldo County General Hospital, Belfast
Silver: 8 to 9 Stars
Goodall Hospital, Sanford
Mayo Regional Hospital, Dover-Foxcroft
Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick
Millinocket Regional Hospital, Millinocket
Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor
Northern Maine Medical Center, Fort Kent
Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan
Sebasticook Valley Health, Pittsfield
St. Mary's Health System, Lewiston
York Hospital, York
Bronze: 6 to 7 Stars
Inland Hospital, Waterville
Maine Medical Center, Portland
Gold Star Champions:
Pam Alexander, Redington-Fairview General Hospital
Craig Cormier, Cary Medical Center
Patricia Gulnac, Goodall Hospital
Kathleen Mulligan, Mount Desert Island Hospital
Houlton Regional Hospital Respiratory Department
Mayo Regional Hospital Wellness Team
2011
Gold: 10 Stars
Calais Regional Hospital, Calais
Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington
Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth
Mercy Hospital, Portland
Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick
Miles Memorial Hospital, Damariscotta
Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Brunswick
Pen Bay Medical Center, Rockport
Spring Harbor Hospital, Westbrook
St. Andrews Hospital, Boothbay Harbor
Stephens Memorial Hospital, Norway
The Aroostook Medical Center, Presque Isle
Silver: 8 to 9 Stars
Down East Community Hospital, Machias
Cary Medical Center, Caribou
Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston
Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor
Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford
The Acadia Hospital, Bangor
Bronze: 6 to 7 Stars
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, Lewiston
York Hospital, York
Individual Gold Stars:
Cary Medical Center: Rebecca Bowmaster
Eastern Maine Medical Center: Helen McKinnon
Mid Coast Hospital: Marla Davis
Pen Bay Medical Center: Carla-Jo Kaler
Stephens Memorial Hospital: Sharon Buffington
St. Mary's Health Systems: Maria Pete and Jennifer Smith
Togus VA Medical Center: Dr. Melanie Thompson
2010
10 Stars
Spring Harbor Hospital
The Aroostook Medical Center
Parkview Adventist Medical Center
Franklin Memorial Hospital
Miles Memorial Hospital
Mercy Hospital
9 Stars
Pen Bay Medical Center
Mount Desert Island Hospital
St. Andrew’s Hospital
8 Stars
Calais Regional Hospital
Penobscot Valley Hospital
Central Maine Medical Center
Waldo County General Hospital
7 Stars
Redington-Fairview General Hospital
Hospital Individual Gold Stars
Redington-Fairview General Hospital: community team
Waldo County General Hospital: Wellness Council
Central Maine Medical Center: CEO Laird Covey
Penobscot Bay Medical Center: Sue Low
Mount Desert Hospital: Kathleen Mulligan
Mercy Hospital: Frederica Jackson and Mary Fink
Please see our Flickr photostream for photos of the 2010 Event.
2008
10 Stars
Mercy Hospital
9 Stars
Northern Maine Medical Center
8 Stars
Southern Maine Medical Center
Central Maine Medical Center
2007
10 Stars
Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital & Nursing Home
MaineGeneral Medical Center – Augusta
MaineGeneral Medical Center – Waterville
Northern Maine Medical Center
Riverview Psychiatric Center
Sebasticook Valley Hospital
9 Stars
Mayo Regional Hospital
Penobscot Valley Hospital
8 Stars
Down East Community Hospital
Franklin Memorial Hospital
Mid Coast Hospital
