ROWLETT, TX – MARCH 26, 2008 – Lake Pointe Medical Center would like to announce that it will be “Smoke Free” as of April 1st, 2008. The ban includes the Lake Pointe Medical Center campus, sidewalks bordering the hospital and the previously approved smoking locations.

“Our smoke free initiative is the right thing to do for our patients, visitors, employees and physicians,” said Carolyn Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Lake Pointe Medical Center. “As a provider of healthcare, Lake Pointe feels an obligation to provide a healthy environment for its constituents and to set an example for health and wellness in our community. Although we feel it is in everyone’s best interest for smokers to make a decision to quit their habit, we do respect the rights of smokers and are not requiring anyone to stop using tobacco. We are only saying that we cannot allow smoking on our property.”

This initiative will affect employees, physicians, patients, volunteers and visitors. Health care providers plan to provide as much support as possible to everyone involved. Our employees will be offered smoking cessation classes, Quit Lines staffed by masters-level counselors, and other smoking cessation support.

If you have questions or would like more information regarding Lake Pointe Medical Center’s decision to go smoke free, please email us via our website or call our Marketing Department at (972) 412-3380 ext 1925.

About Lake Pointe Medical Center

Lake Pointe Medical Center, a part of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, is a 112-bed acute care hospital located at 6800 Scenic Drive in Rowlett. Lake Pointe Medical Center has been serving the residents of Rockwall, Rowlett, Royse City and the surrounding communities since 1987. The hospital provides a wide spectrum of medical services, including an emergency department with Fast Track services, a 14-bed intensive care unit, women's services, a Level II Neonatal Nursery, diagnostic imaging, eight operating rooms and telemetry. Lake Pointe Medical Center also provides a number of specialty services, including cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, oncology, infectious disease, general surgery, spine surgery, thoracic surgery, ear nose and throat, pulmonary medicine, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and neonatal services. Lake Pointe also offers wound care, sleep medicine, physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as pulmonary rehabilitation. The Lake Pointe Imaging Center in Rockwall provides extended imaging services to the community. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency, licensed by the state of Texas and certified for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. To learn more about Lake Pointe Medical Center, visit www.lakepointemedical.com.