University Hospital, Clinics In Lafayette To Be Tobacco-free

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — University Hospital & Clinics says its facilities will move to a completely tobacco-free campus on Feb. 1.

KATC-TV reports all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco and cigars, will be prohibited on the hospital campus, which includes all buildings, sidewalks and parking lots.

UHC CEO Jared Stark says their job is to save lives and prevent disease. So, he says, becoming 100 percent tobacco free makes sense and is part of their obligation to the community.

UHC joins other Lafayette General Health campuses that are smoke-free, including Lafayette General Medical Center, the Medical Office Building housing Lafayette General Surgical Hospital and Oil Center Surgical Plaza, St. Martin Hospital and Acadia General Hospital.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.