The VA campus in Murfreesboro and facilities throughout the state will soon be smoke free.
As part of its commitment to provide excellent health care to Veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) will implement a new VA policy restricting smoking at its health care facilities in October.
Although VA has historically permitted smoking in designated areas, there is growing evidence that smoking and exposure to secondhand and third hand smoke creates significant medical risks, and risks to safety and direct patient care that are inconsistent with medical requirements and limitations. Accordingly, VA's Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has collaborated with key stakeholders to update and recertify the policy to be consistent with the department's commitment to Veterans and the community.
"We are not alone in recognizing the importance of creating a smoke-free campus," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. "As of 2014, 4,000 health care facilities and four national health care systems in the U.S. have implemented smoke-free grounds. This policy change coincides with additional VHA efforts to help us become the provider of choice for Veterans and the reason why Veterans will ChooseVA."
The new smoke-free policy applies to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, any other combustion of tobacco and non-Federal Drug Administration approved electronic nicotine delivery systems, including but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens or e-cigars.
The policy will go into effect at all TVHS facilities October 1, 2019.
More Smoking Information:
VHA has extensive resources and programs to assist Veterans in their smoke-free journey. They can be found at https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/quit-tobacco/.
For additional information about the policy visit: https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=8242
