Information about an inpatient, outpatient or emergency department patient’s general condition may be released to the media by Montefiore PR if the inquiry specifically identifies the patient by name.
Information may not be given if a request does not include a specific patient’s name or if the patient requests that the information not be released. This includes patients brought to the hospital by the police and fire departments.
Guidelines used by Montefiore Einstein PR in releasing general patient conditions:
As long as a patient has not requested that information be withheld, Montefiore PR may release the patient’s one-word condition, based on a medical determination of one of the following:
Definitions:
- Undetermined: Patient is awaiting physician and/or 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 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.
- Death: If a patient has not specifically prohibited information from being given out, the PR representative for Montefiore may respond to the media that the patient has died but may not provide the media with the date, time or cause of death. Authorization must be obtained from a personal representative of the deceased before any additional information about a deceased patient may be released.
- Location: A patient’s location in the hospital will never be given to the media. The fact that the person has been treated and released or discharged may be released to the media, but only if the patient is asked for by name. We will never disclose when or to where a patient has been released.