Kelly Dunham This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. www.dekalbmemorial.com

   www.dekalbmemorial.com/staff.p - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/21/2007   Last Visited: 12/21/2007

   Dunham Kelly, Vice President and Corporate Compliance Officer

2. 2. www.fortwayne.com

   www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayn - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/10/2007   Last Visited: 3/10/2007

   Although the hospital currently forbids smoking inside buildings as well as within 50 feet of entrances, Kelly Dunham, DeKalb's vice president, said the new policy is the next step in a tobacco-free trend at hospitals.
   
   "It's just the right thing for us to become a leader in," Dunham said.
   
   In November, Parkview Health and Lutheran Health Network officials jointly announced a similar ban would become effective, May 31, at their Allen County campuses, hospitals and other facilities in the county owned by the health care organizations.
   
   DeKalb Memorial Hospital officials believe the new policy will help provide a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff, according to a hospital statement.
   
   The proposed ban was first pitched to the hospital's board in early 2006, Dunham said. The board favored it but wanted to be sure all necessary processes were in place before it was implemented.
   
   Those processes include plans to help employees who wish to battle tobacco addiction as well as training employees on how best to handle visitors who may not know about the tobacco-free policy, Dunham said.
   
   "We're not going to strong arm anyone," Dunham said.
   
   Signs will be posted at current smoking zones explaining the new tobacco-free policy, Dunham said.
   
   Officials realize hospital visitors are sometimes forced to stay for long periods of time, so alternatives to smoking will be offered, including possibly providing mints, Dunham said.
   
   The hospital offers several support groups and smoking cessation courses, according to a hospital statement.
   
   Hospital officials hope tobacco-using employees will opt to abandon the habit, and nicotine replacement therapy plans are in place, Dunham said.
   
   The hospital's doctors and nurses will play a key role in smoking cessation efforts, Dunham said.
   
   Officials even modified the hospital's dress code policy to address what will happen if an employee reports to work smelling heavily of smoke, although those details are still being ironed out, Dunham said.
   
   The hospital board gave final approval to the new policy in January, Dunham said.
   
   Officials recognize that it will be difficult to enforce the rule inside personal vehicles on hospital property, Dunham said.

3. 3. Indiana Healthcare Executives Network

   ihen.ache.org/x36.xml - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/25/2004   Last Visited: 6/22/2005

   Kelly L. Dunham, CHE Assistant Administrator DeKalb Memorial Hospital 1316 E 7th St Auburn, IN 46706-2523 Phone: (260) 920-2558 Fax: (260) 925-8350