December 28, 2011
Diane Vertin, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
600 North 21st Street
Superior, Wisconsin 54880
Dear Ms. Vertin,
I write this letter in support of the concept of having WITC become a tobacco free campus. I
could wear many hats in this regard, one being as a clinically trained physical therapist, another
as a parent of two college graduate daughters, or another, as one who personally lead the 2007
initiative for Essentia Health's East Region to establish such a policy and practice. Another
option would be to cite my past involvement on the Minnesota State Health Improvement
Program (SHIP) which works with post secondary campuses in our region of Minnesota to
become leaders in this initiative. Rather, I write in support of the tobacco free concept from an
employer's perspective.
You are in the business of education. You are also richly positioned to influence tomorrow's
workforce. WITC grads can expect more and more future employers to either have tobacco free
policies in place, or, they will find employers quietly offering positions to non-smokers. Much
like the familiar pre-placement drug testing process, some companies are now conducting urine
screenings for nicotine. Currently 21 states permit employers to actively not hire smokers, and
other states now permit hospitals to also not hire smokers. (Wisconsin and Minnesota are not,
at this time, among these 21 states.) Companies such as Union Pacific, Scotts Lawn, Alaska
Airlines, and the Cleveland Clinic (16,000 employees) are leading such practices. The
American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and the World Health Organization all
practice smoker-free hiring. Six thousand other companies can also be named. WITC grads
who smoke will increasingly struggle with job placement and work performance. There is a
great New York Times article on this topic dated 2/10/11.
Employers know, and data shows, that smokers take more sick days per year, take longer and
more daily breaks (lost productivity), cost at least $3391 more in health care claims and
productivity annually, have premature deaths (increased company sponsored life insurance
claims) and shorter careers (more turnover, recruitment and training costs). Just having a
tobacco free policy, even if poorly enforced, also results in smokers smoking 3-4 fewer
cigarettes per day. Other employees are also affected by second hand smoke, and non
smokers often hold perceptions that smokers are given unfair work place advantages causing
work place morale issues.
We are a training site for many of your students. Last year alone we trained approximately 95
students from WITC. It is our expectation, and has been our experience, that your students do
follow our tobacco free policy while on our campuses. We fully realize their main intent in
coming to our world is to develop their clinical skills, expand their communication skills, and care
for our patients. At the same time, we are hopeful they may also come to experience the
benefits of working in a tobacco free environment. Our tobacco free policy and practice is not
perfect, even though we took the leap nearly four years ago. Every day we have un-informed
visitors and patients breaking the rule. But that's OK. It's a work in progress. And we are set to
update our policy again in early 2012. Such a policy and practice also provides us with a better
corporate image, and presents us as a health care provider walking the talk. We here at
Essentia East also stand ready to consult with you on how we implemented such a policy, and
to share positive and negative lessons learned in the roll out phase.
The WITC Mission Statement speaks to providing " . . . . dynamic opportunities for career
preparation and personal effectiveness.” Establishing a tobacco free campus seems to be both
consistent with, and edifying of, your mission statement. Your graduates will encounter
increasingly more employers with tobacco free expectations or rules. How insightful, and how
anticipatory, on your part would it be, to be reinforcing this healthy practice in their training
years! Never underestimate the difference one person, or in this case, one leadership team,
can make! Go For It!
Best regards,
Michael F. McAvoy, MS
Vice President of Operations
Essentia Health - Duluth Clinic
400 East Third Street
Duluth, MN 55805
218-786-8452 mmcavoy@smdc.org