Northwest Health Goes Smoke-Free

Northwest Health System Inc. will be “smoke-free” as of January 10, 2005. An announcement was made to employees in mid-July that the system would not allow any patient, visitor or employee to smoke anywhere on the premises of a Northwest Health facility. It is the first health care provider in Northwest Arkansas to go completely smoke free.

The decision was made by Northwest Health and CEO Bill Bradley.

Northwest plans to offer a smoking-cessation program to employees through the human resources department, said Sean Harrison, a hospital spokesman.

With about 2,000 employees, Northwest is the largest local health system and the parent of hospitals Northwest Medical Center of Benton County in Bentonville, Northwest Medical Center of Washington County in Springdale, Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson and 18 additional area clinics.