Tobacco use is the No. 1 preventable cause of death. Vermont’s Department of Health estimates that each year smoking results in about 1,000 smoking-related deaths in Vermont. It also costs $348 million in medical expenses. Second hand smoke affects countless other lives – children, friends and family are all impacted.
Tobacco, physical inactivity and poor nutrition are the three behaviors that lead to cancer, heart disease and stroke, Type 2 diabetes and lung disease. These diseases are responsible for more than 50 percent of the deaths in Vermont, according to the Vermont Department of Health website.
As an organization that focuses on health and saving lives, Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region’s mission is to improve the health status of the people in the community, and CHCRR is taking a leading role establishing a tobacco-free health network that sets the stage for a tobacco-free community.
As prospective employees and volunteers are being interviewed, they will be informed of the new policy and job postings will display a notice that CHCRR is a tobacco-free environment.
CHCRR is central Vermont’s largest network of primary care, pediatric and dental services with offices in Rutland, Brandon, Castleton, West Pawlet and Shoreham. Community Dental offices are located in Rutland and Shoreham, CHCRR Pediatrics is in Rutland and CHCRR’s Express Care centers, open 7 days a week, are located at the Rutland and Castleton Community Health Centers.
