Media Guidelines
Sumner Regional Health System recognizes its responsibility to provide accurate public information. Reporters can access information from SRHS 24 hours a day through its media representatives and their associates (see 'Contact PR Staff' below). We are proud of our record of providing the media with accurate, ethical and timely information and access to our health care facilities. In return, we ask that you respect our obligation to protect our patients' well-being and legal right to privacy.
- News media will seek information through designated SRHS public relations representatives and will clearly identify themselves as media representatives in all communications with SRHS employees.
- In compliance with applicable state and federal laws including, but not limited to, HIPAA privacy regulations, no information can be given that violates the confidentiality, privacy or legal rights of patients.
- All visits to SRHS facilities must be approved in advance by SRHS public relations staff or their representatives. When news crews must be dispatched immediately, assignment editor should call (615) 328-5031or (615) 328-8888 and let the PR staff know a crew is on the way.
- Identifiable photographs, film or video of SRHS patients taken on SRHS property will not be published or aired without permission of the patient or patient's guardian. This includes patients arriving via ambulance or Life Flight emergency transport at a SRHS facility. Written permission will be sought as soon as possible by SRHS public relations staff or their representatives.
- All interviews with patients, including telephone interviews, must be approved in advance by SRHS representatives.
- Access to patients will be arranged if the patient or patient's guardian is willing and his/her condition permits. This is to ensure the patient's health is not adversely affected and ability to consent to an interview is not compromised by illness, injury or medications.
Patient Information
Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of patients and patient information is a primary responsibility of the Marketing & Public Relations office.
New federal regulations have changed the way we report patient information to the media. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountabilty Act (HIPAA) establishes privacy standards that protect the kind of information we can provide about hospital patients.
Under the law, individuals entering our hospital for any kind of treatment have an opportunity to opt in or opt out of the patient directory.
If they 'opt in,' Sumner Regional Health System will release a one-word condition (see below) about a patient's status upon request from the media. The reporter must provide the patient's first and last name.
If the patient 'opts out,' or if you do not provide a first and last name, no information can be given. In this case, HIPAA will not even allow us to acknowlege that the patient is or was at our facility.
Patient Condition Definitions
- Undetermined: Patient is awaiting evaluation by a physician.
- Good: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
- Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
- Serious: Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
- Critical: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
- Treated and Released: Recevied treatment, but was not admitted.
- Treated and Transferred: Treated and transferred to another facility. We may not disclose where the patient has been transferred.
- Note: 'Stable' is not a recognized condition.
Angela Alexander, SRHS Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Office: (615) 328-5031 Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm
After Hours: (615) 328-8888
Note: Please ask to have the SRHS Public Relations staff member on call paged immediately.
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