Next on the list in the growing trend of employers who are refusing to hire smokers is Truman Medical Centers (Kansas City). According to a Fox news story: "If you smoke, you won't get a job at Truman Medical Centers. The hospital system will not hire any more tobacco users. The CEO says since they're in the health care business, they want to make a strong statement and set the example that smoking is a preventable health hazard."

Well, you know what? If they are really interested in making a strong statement and setting the example about what preventable health hazards are, then they should also stop hiring obese people. Since they're in the health care business, don't they feel they should set an example regarding one of the nation's most important preventable health hazards - obesity?

And why stop there? Lack of physical activity is also an important preventable health hazard. So is a crappy diet. And so is unsafe sexual activity. Aren't these all unhealthy behaviors that Truman Medical Centers should make a strong statement about and for which they should set the example that these, in addition to smoking, are important preventable health hazards?

My detailed commentary on this story is here.

Most of the nurses I know personally suffer from Twobutts disease. LOL
But seriously, with the well documented shortage of nurses, aren't they cutting their own throats? That was a retorical question of course. Practicality has never detered the 'true belivers'.

In Indianapolis at least one has established an employment policy banning smokers. Any employee entering the building with a scent of smoke can be fired.

The hospitol is part of large group of hospitols making up the IU School of medicine, but it is affiliated with the Methodist Church and as a religious organization is exempt from the smoker's rights law.

Hospitols are springing up all over the metro area. There was a nurse shortage before, now it must be critical. Current designs are more like luxury hotels with all the luxury features of a spa or resort. We have multiple chilrens, womens, heart, sports, etc. hospitols now.

Evidently the Boomers are hoped to be about to crash and use these facilities in abundance. I imagine they will have to buy medical personal from 3rd world countries to staff them or the older hospitols as qualified personnel is lured to more luxurious facilities. Smokers are not the only reason for the high costs of health care.