Going tobacco-free, tall order for health-care facilities

Healthcare facilities being tobacco-free seems like a natural fit, but enforcing a tobacco-free policy that prohibits all people from using tobacco in buildings and on campus grounds it owns and leases can be a tall order. A state-wide survey showed that hospital, clinics and cancer treatment were among the health-care facilities in South Dakota with the more comprehensive policies. Use of an electronic health record system was key to assessing patients’ tobacco use.