Targeting Tobacco Cessation and Better Nutrition A grant from The Duke Endowment is helping hospitals support employees and patients in quitting the use of tobacco. To help North Carolina and South Carolina hospitals improve the health of employees and visitors, The Duke Endowment has awarded grants to promote tobacco-free campuses, improve nutrition standards and practices, and help employees and patients quit tobacco use. ChallengeWhile hospitals are designed as places for medical treatment and healing, many hospital campuses in North Carolina and South Carolina still permitted the use of tobacco until 2009. Hospitals throughout the state also maintained varying standards of nutrition and food options for employees and visitors. The grants from The Duke Endowment were designed to help hospitals improve health on their campuses by targeting tobacco and nutrition. ResponseTo increase the number of tobacco-free hospitals in North Carolina and improve nutrition on hospital campuses, The Duke Endowment granted support to hospitals through the North Carolina Hospital Association and NC Prevention Partners for the Healthy NC Hospitals Initiative. In November 2010, the Endowment gave a multi-year grant to the South Carolina Hospital Association to launch the Working Well Initiative. With technical assistance from NC Prevention Partners, hospitals in South Carolina are developing and implementing wellness policies and work environments that support better health. This project builds on the Healthy North Carolina Hospital Initiative. By using learnings from North Carolina, the South Carolina project is expected to be implemented with improved efficiency and lower costs. Increasing the Number of Tobacco-Free HospitalsIn 2006, The Duke Endowment granted $600,000 to increase the number of North Carolina hospitals with 100 percent tobacco-free, campus-wide policies from 48 in 2006 to 127 in 2009. Tobacco-free hospitals see a significant interest in tobacco cessation programs by employees; studies show that worksite tobacco bans significantly increase cessation rates and protect workers from secondhand smoke. Through this three-year Healthy NC Hospitals Initiative, the North Carolina Hospital Association and NC Prevention Partners used Endowment funding to:
 At FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a progressive pricing strategy on healthier food options is making it more affordable and easier for employees and visitors to make better nutritional choices. Improving Nutrition on Hospital CampusesIn 2007, the North Carolina Hospital Association was awarded a three-year, $1.1 million grant from The Duke Endowment to work with NC Prevention Partners (NCPP) to revolutionize nutrition standards in hospital cafeterias, vending machines and at all hospital-related events. Because hospitals are in a prime position to help combat the obesity epidemic in North Carolina, NCPP is working with hospitals across the state to implement a five point plan for enhancing healthy food environments. The plan will include information about what healthy options to offer, pricing and marketing to help move the healthier options, and creating new employee wellness benefits to encourage healthier behavior. Helping Employees and Patients Quit Tobacco UseIn 2009, The Duke Endowment awarded a $250,000 grant to the North Carolina Hospital Association to develop a comprehensive tobacco-cessation system in Participating SitesContact Us
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Improving Standards
The Gold Star recognizes hospitals for providing the highest standard of excellence for tobacco cessation programs.
Healthier Workplaces
NC Prevention Partners was recognized for its work in promoting healthy eating in hospitals.
Healthy Hospital Food
A culinary competition in
