Toward Smoke-Free VA Hospitals

To the Editor.—  Prompted by the contents of three Letters to the Editor from Veterans Administration (VA) physicians, I thought it appropriate to advise you and your readers of the December 22, 1988, announcement by the Chief Medical Director of the VA's Department of Medicine and Surgery. In a press release, Dr John A. Gronvall announced his intentions to establish a smoke-free environment in all acute-care VA facilities. Dr Gronvall indicated that this is part of the national effort to achieve a smoke-free society by the year 2000 and noted that the Department of Medicine and Surgery is making every effort to ensure that the environment in its facilities promotes the health and well-being of patients and employees.While the national implementation effort is pursued by the advisory task force appointed by the Chief Medical Director, all VA medical centers have been encouraged to continue their local efforts to achieve