Mercy Hospital recognized for tobacco-free achievements
Date: 06/15/2023
The annual Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program Awardees have been announced for 2023. The program of the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence’s Breathe Easy Initiative recognized twenty-eight hospitals, healthcare organizations, and behavioral health organizations, and one individual Gold Star Champion for efforts to address tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Celebrated organizations received a plaque for their achievements in advancing their campus smoke and tobacco-free policies as well as promoting tobacco-free lifestyles.
Organizations are recognized at the platinum, gold, silver, and bronze levels, which are based on best practice criteria such as a smoke and tobacco-free campus policy, annual screening for tobacco use, referral to tobacco treatment, and supporting employee education related to tobacco treatment. Mercy Hospital received the highest “platinum” recognition.
The Breathe Easy Initiative is dedicated to providing Maine’s hospitals with the information and resources needed to make all organizations smoke and tobacco-free. The initiative is supported through a grant from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Learn more at
BreatheEasyMaine.org.
Awardees from Northern Light Health can be found below:
Platinum level awardees:
- Northern Light AR Gould Hospital
- Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center
- Northern Light Mercy Hospital
- Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital
Gold level awardees:
- Northern Light Inland Hospital
Individual Gold Star Champion:
- Jennifer K. Bartlett, RN – Northern Light AR Gould Hospital