Des Moines hospital extends smoke-free workplace to nicotine-free workers

[MagnusEunson]

Des Moines hospital extends smoke-free workplace to nicotine-free workers

"KCCI-TV in Des Moines reports that Mercy Medical Center will no longer hire smokers and will test applicants for nicotine as part of its pre-employment drug testing.

Human Resources Director Kevin Elsberry says the hospital wants its employees to emulate the same healthy behaviors it encourages from its patients. The policy, which goes into July 1, doesn't affect current employees.

Elsberry says the policy isn't discriminatory. He says smokers aren't a "protected class" in Iowa so the hospital has the option of not hiring people who smoke or use other tobacco products."

-Magnus

 

[sqirl1]

YouTube - ‪KMFDM- Glory‬‏ all I have to say to this.

 

[Vocalek]

Left this comment:

The hospital's policy is indeed, discriminatory, as it puts those with mood impairments and cognitive disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder at a distinct disadvantage. A sizable percentage of people get hooked on smoking because the nicotine provides relief from some of their symptoms. The hospital may be able to defend not hiring smokers, based on the health risks of smoking. But it is indefensible to refuse to hire former smokers who maintain their smoking abstinence by using safer sources of nicotine.

Some people use nicotine gum for years to avoid relapse to smoking. There is no evidence that long-term use of NRT increases health risks. Decades of research on the health effects of switching from smoking to low-nitrosamine Swedish snus show that those who switch have the same health risks and the same life expectancy of former smokers who gave up all use of nicotine.

Nicotine is not intoxicating. Much like caffeine, it enhances the ability to concentrate and pay attention. Nicotine also improves some aspects of memory. What does the hospital have against their employees remaining alert and doing a good job?

What is needed is for some long-term former smoker who uses NRT to file a law suit against the hospital.

 

[meems]

What about people who use nrt as a medical treatment such as Ulcerative Colitis?

 

[Vocalek]

What about people who use nrt as a medical treatment such as Ulcerative Colitis?

I guess, then, that you could say that this particular Des Moines Medical Center has no Mercy.

 

[Eddie.Willers]

Nonsense on stilts! What's new!?
So, I suppose if you use an NRT product you won't be working in Des Moines!

 

[Vocalek]

Nonsense on stilts! What's new!?
So, I suppose if you use an NRT product you won't be working in Des Moines!

Exactly. If all they wanted to test for was smoking, exhaled carbon monoxide is a better indicator.

 

[hairball]

I guess they don't want their workers eating either huh?

 

[MagnusEunson]

They were already testing for smoking, they want to test for nicotine, period. This is the second step they've taken. -Magnus

 

[Eddie.Willers]

They were already testing for smoking, they want to test for nicotine, period. This is the second step they've taken.

Sheesh! That's scary! The Libertarian part of me thinks its acceptable for an employer to set what conditions they want for employment but it just seems that they are going about this entirely wrongly.

 

[house mouse]

So will the hospital also be refusing to treat patients with new therapeutic modalities if they include nicotine? There is emerging scientific evidence that indicates nicotine is beneficial in the treatment of certain conditions including, but not limited to, alzheimers, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, etc. Or, will the hospital hypocritically declare nicotine is OK for patients but not employees? If an employee develops ulcerative colitis and needs treatment with nicotine, will the hospital terminate employment because of a disease that might require treatment with nicotine? Are they going to "cold turkey" their patients and not provide nicotine replacement therapy while an inpatient? Really? Are there other hospitals in the area that a patient could take their insurance dollars to? Seems to me like they're trotting down a slippery slope in high heels right now.


That's the blurb I wanted to post on the site. It seems though I already have an account there, but dang if I can remember the password. But if anyone wants to post it there, feel free.

 

[Vocalek]

I gave it a shot, House Mouse. I did not go into the "nicotine as therapy" angle because so far that's an "off-label" use of nicotine. Some day.... they will all be forced to eat crow when the fact comes out that nicotine is the 21st century miracle drug.

 

[Audio Weasel]

So what happens if the person taking the test for nicotine has, say, Huevos rancheros, with lots of tomato salsa, with a huge side of hash browns with tomatos in it the morning they take the test? Will they throw a false positive? If so, how will that be handled?

(Didn't include eggplant just because I DESPISE eggplant)

Is the hospital cafeteria going to not serve anything with those ingredients?

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I'd suggest they also pump candidates stomachs and analyse the contents as part of the interview process, to check they are not eating unhealthy foods. This would ensure its employees emulate the same healthy behaviors it encourages from its patients. Perhaps they could also do DNA tests to check if any employees have any of the genes suspected of being associated with obesity or addiction? Just to minimise the risk of staff developing a problem unbecoming of their standards in the future?

 

[Vocalek]

Wonder what they do if they find methylphenidate in the blood stream. Do they consider it abuse if an ADHD patient takes Concerta or Ritalin to treat their symptoms?

Do they do any checks to make sure that the prospective employee doesn't drink to excess? Always wears a seat belt? Doesn't sky dive, ride a motorcycle, or fly a plane?

 

[rothenbj]

I don't know about other areas of the country, but here in the eastern PA area we are constantly bombarded by advertisements for hospitals (as if all the drug commercials aren't enough). We have St Luke's in the area that have this type policy. I have vowed never to use their facilities. If all smokers, smokeless and e cig users did the same thing these hospitals could lose potentially one third of their patients. Probably enough that they couldn't afford to run media ads, but with reduced business perhaps their staff, already limited by eugenic policy, will be able to get by.

 

[Audio Weasel]

I don't know about other areas of the country, but here in the eastern PA area we are constantly bombarded by advertisements for hospitals (as if all the drug commercials aren't enough). We have St Luke's in the area that have this type policy. I have vowed never to use their facilities. If all smokers, smokeless and e cig users did the same thing these hospitals could lose potentially one third of their patients. Probably enough that they couldn't afford to run media ads, but with reduced business perhaps their staff, already limited by eugenic policy, will be able to get by.

I'm sorry, you said eugenics and all I could think was KHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

 

[hisfattness]

I think it is crazy that nicotine is automatically looked at as must be a smoker. Like you said there are many other uses. MY using nicotine gum or a pv isn't gonna kill the guy next to me and i know for a fact that my pv is better for me than a cigratte. I feel better and would be more productive now than when i smoked analogs. Smoking analogs i needed a break every 15mins to go have a smoke. Things have gotten so backwards nowadays. And smokers may not be protected but i'm sure they have a law suit coming there way at some point.

 

[dagnagan]

Maybe they assume that most people using NRTs will eventually go back to smoking, although they can't come right out and say that, can they?

 

[Thulium]

Is the hospital's goal to punish adults who are unable or unwilling to completely stop using tobacco or recreational nicotine products, or would they like to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with tobacco use by 99%? http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/centers-institutes/population-development/files/article.jphp.pdf

As long as there are people addicted to alcohol, caffeine and/or sex, any attempt to abolish tobacco use is unrealistic and foolish; but reducing smoking is a realistic and worthwhile goal.