As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) commitment to a smoke-free health care environment for Veterans, the department will extend its smoke-free policies to include employees at its health care facilities.

VA will implement the employee smoke-free policy beginning in October 2019 and complete full implementation no later than January 2020 due to employee union-negotiated timelines.

This follows the department’s June 10, 2019 announcement of a new policy restricting smoking by patients, visitors, volunteers, contractors and vendors at its health care facilities by October. The integration of these two efforts guarantees a fully smoke-free environment for our nation’s Veterans.

“For our Veterans and employees that smoke, this is an excellent time to stop smoking and the VA is committed to assisting you,” said David Whitmer, Carl Vinson VA Medical Center director. “Our tobacco cessation program is offered to Veterans and employees free of charge.”

VA has collaborated with key stakeholders to update and recertify the employee policy to be consistent with VA’s commitment to Veterans and the community.

“This policy change is consistent with our mission to promote a healthy environment for patients, visitors and employees at our facilities as an important element of improving our health care system,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “It will reduce the harmful effects of smoking, including exposure to second and third-hand smoke, as well as increase safety and reduce fire hazards caused by smoking.”

Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) 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.

Tobacco Cessation Classes: Classes usually meet one hour a week for five weeks. Please contact the following sites directly to confirm dates and times:

Dublin Campus: Every Wednesday at 2pm on 15A

Dublin Campus: Every Thursday at 2PM on 10B for DOM in-patient’s only

Tele-Health at all CBOC locations (Albany, Tifton, Brunswick, Macon, Milledgeville, & Perry): Every Friday at 1:15

The Point of Contact is Jennifer Johnson BSN RN; Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program Manager

1-800-595-5229, dial #1 then the extension 3044

Walk-ins are welcome

Georgia Department of Public Health: Ready to Quit (https://dph.georgia.gov/ready-quit): Georgia Tobacco Quit Line 1-877-270-STOP.  Individual telephone sessions are available, as well as group and web sessions. Most sessions provide two weeks of nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges.

For more information about what is available within the CVVAMC, please contact your primary care team to get scheduled for the Tele-Health classes offered in the Community Based Outpatient Care facilities or call 1-800-595-5229 and dial #1 then the extension 2947 or 3159 to schedule an appointment for the Wednesday classes offered at the Dublin facility.