3:53 p.m. - Two of the top three employers in the Bismarck-Mandan area will soon ban their employees from smoking anywhere on their property.

Medcenter One announced Tuesday that employees cannot even smoke outside if it is on their property. But so far the policy, which kicks in Jan. 1, does not apply to visitors. St. Alexius Medical Center plans to implement a similar policy.

James Cooper, president and CEO of Medcenter One, said the move will promote health, increase productivity and set a good example to the general public.

"Now more than ever, we know that smoking contradicts our health-care mission and therefore we have determined we will no longer allow smoking on Medcenter One property," Cooper said.

Cooper announced the new policy at a news conference on Wednesday in a room with hospital employees and reporters.

Nancy R. Willis, vice president of marketing for St. Alexius, said the hospital wants to inform its employees of the details of the new policy before announcing it to the public.

"We are very supportive of what Medcenter One is doing and we intend to do the same," Willis said.

Cooper said Medcenter One employees could be counseled and put in a "progressive discipline process" if they are caught smoking on hospital property.

"We just cannot condone smoking in any connection with Medcenter One," Cooper said.

Medcenter One employs about 2,000 employees and St. Alexius about 2,100, making the hospitals the second- and third-largest employers in the area behind the state.

Cooper said he hopes other businesses, large and small, will implement similar policies.

Craig Lambrecht, medical director for Medcenter One, said smoking-related health problems kill 1,000 North Dakotans each year.

Although visitors will be allowed to smoke in a designated area outside, Cooper said the hospital is encouraging people not to smoke on its property.

Medcenter One is providing classes and other resources to help its employees quit smoking.

Gena Neumann, a human resources manager for Medcenter One, is one of the employees who hopes to quit smoking.

Neumann, a 20-year smoker, said she panicked at first when the new policy was announced, but that she wants to be smoke-free by January.

"I think we have the right tools," Neumann said. "We just have to have the employees who want to do it."

Willis said the exact details of St. Alexius' policy haven't been finalized, but a committee comprised of employees from various department has given the unanimous support of a ban.

Willis said visitors at St. Alexius will be able to smoke outside, but the hospital doesn't have plans to provide smoking huts where people can gather in the cold weather. St. Alexius will offer smoking-cessation programs to its employees at no charge.

Cooper has seen a lot of changes in his 30-year career in health care.

Hospitals used to allow smoking inside their facilities and even sold cigarettes to patients.

Now most hospitals ban smoking indoors and within 100 feet of any entrance.

Cooper said MeritCare Hospital in Fargo has a similar policy and other hospitals in the state are considering an outside smoking ban.

"If we don't lead the way on this, who will?" Cooper said.

The state has taken steps to restrict smoking, but not in outdoor areas.

The Legislature approved a ban on smoking in most public places and private buildings where the public could gather that went into effect Aug. 1. Bars are exempt from the ban and restaurants have to create an enclosed area for smokers if they want to be exempt.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@bismarcktribune.com)