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, well-marked with clear signage communicating the policy at all campus and building entrances and other high traffic areas. Tobacco use by staff, patients and visitors is prohibited at all time sin and on the hospital's property including in vehicles, 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, cigares, pipes and all other non-FDA approved nicotine delivery devices, such as electronic cigarettes.)
- The hospital has implemented policies and procedures to reduce patient and employee exposure to thirdhand tobacco smoke. (Thirdhand smoke is the tobacco smoke residue that lingers on clothing, hair, skin and surfaces after a cigarette as been extinguished and can be harmful to infants, children and nonsmoking adults.)
- Written policies and procedures that detail the hospital's tobacco-free policy, including enforcement and employee expectations, exist.
- 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 placement in waiting rooms.
- Information about tobacco dependence and treatment, secondhand smoke, and local/statewide treatment resources are readily available to patients and visitors.
- All patients admitted to the hospital are screened for tobacco use, tobacco status is documented and patients are offered comprehensive treatment services lduring their stay. This includes tobacco dependency counseling/coaching, bedside interventions, clinical assessment and management for patients experiencing nicotine withdrawal, offering FDA-approved tobacco treatment medications, and referral to counseling post-discharge.
- The hospital supports evidence-based education and training on tobacco dependency and treatment for employees to provide counseling and education to tobacco users.
- Tobacco treatment services are a covered benefit in the hospital health insurance package for employees and dependents. Benefits include coverage for counseling and medication therapy for quitting tobacco, with minimal,, or no barriers to utilization.
- The hospital makes available information about 100% smoke-free local lodging to allow visiting patients and families to make healthy choices regarding their lodging.
- The hospital has a written policy stating it refuses all donations from the tobacco industry and divests itself of all tobacco company stock.
MTFHN Gold Star Standards of Excellence Application
Each year, MTFHN invites all Maine hospitals to participate in the Gold Star Standards of Excellence program, if they meet at least six of the ten Gold Star Standards. Hospitals that have previously been recognized are encouraged to apply each year to be highlighted for ongoing efforts. The 2013 program has been completed, until the 2014 application is released, you can review the 2013 Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program Application. Additional information and support in meeting these standards is available through our application guide document and by viewing our August 2012 webinar slides and other presentation on our SlideShare page.
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.
2013
The 2013 Gold Star Standards of Excellence program saw the highest level of participation yet from Maine hospitals, with nearly 80% (31 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 27th 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
Acadia Hospital, Bangor
Calais Regional Hospital, Calais
Cary Medical Center, Caribou
CA Dean Memorial Hospital, Greenville
Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor
Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington
Goodall Hospital, Sanford
MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta/Waterville
Maine Medical Center, Portland
Mayo Regional Hospital, Dover-Foxcroft
Mercy Hospital, Portland
Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Brunswick
Pen Bay Medical Center, Rockland
Sebasticook Valley Health, Pittsfield
Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford
Stephens Memorial Hospital, Norway
The Aroostook Medical Center, Presque Isle
Waldo County General Hospital, Belfast
Silver: 8 to 9 Stars
Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, Blue Hill
Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston
Houlton Regional Hospital, Houlton
Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick
Miles Memorial Hospital, Damariscotta
Millinocket Regional Hospital, Millinocket
Penobscot Valley Hospital, Lincoln
St. Andrews Hospital, Boothbay Harbor
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, Lewiston
Spring Harbor Hospital, Westbrook
Bronze: 6 to 7 Stars
Down East Community Hospital, Machias
Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor
Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan
Gold Star Champions:
Laird Covey, Central Maine Medical Center
Carolyn Burgess, Goodall Hospital
Barbara Perry, Maine Medical Center
Breathe Free Program, Parkview Adventist Medical Center
Jim Fortunato, Redington-Fairview General Hospital
Be Tobacco Free Program, Southern Maine Medical Center
Works on Wellness Council, Waldo County General Hospital
2012
View photos here and 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
