Press Room 

As of April 15, 2003, a new federal rule called the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” or “HIPAA” went into effect  This rule governs the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health information.

In order to give out any information about a patient – including a general condition update – the reporter must have the patient’s FIRST AND LAST NAME.  Even if it is a patient who has already been in the news or you know the name in some other way, if the news station that calls you does not have the name, you can’t release any information.

Even if the patient’s information is in the public domain (for example, in a police report), health care providers must still adhere to HIPAA guidelines and may not comment on the patient other than a general condition update.

If an inquiry is made using the patient’s name, general condition information may be provided using the American Hospital Association (AHA) guidelines.  You can only use one of the conditions below when releasing a one-word condition report to the media.  PLEASE NOTE:  “Stable” is not a listed condition even if that is what the nurse tells you.  Read the following conditions and ask them which best applies.

Undetermined:           Patient awaiting physician assessment.

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 and comfortable.  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.

The only way that additional information can be released about the patient is if the patient has signed a HIPAA authorization form.  In most cases, if a patient is brought in overnight or during the weekend, they will not have signed a HIPAA authorization form.  You will either need to go in to get one signed (see sample HIPAA form) or the reporter will have to wait until normal business hours when Media Relations is in.

If you run into a difficult or questionable situation regarding HIPAA regulations, please call someone on the Media Relations team for guidance.