MEDIA POLICY
FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE MEDIA
Broward Health, which includes Broward General Medical Center, Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, Coral Springs Medical Center, Imperial Point Medical Center and North Broward Medical Center, recognizes the right of the media to report public information and recognizes the importance of media coverage to educate the public about health matters, healthcare services and healthcare news. In order to safeguard the life, health and legal rights of patients, and to prevent the reporting of erroneous speculation or opinions, the following policies/procedures have been established.
Broward Health will release medical information and confirm treatment of patients only as allowed by the Privacy rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As such, the only information that may be relayed regarding the treatment of an individual is a confirmation of the patient/client's name and a one-word condition. Any release of information beyond confirmation of name and one-word condition requires a Consent to Photograph and/or Interview and Authorization to Release Protected Health Information to be completed by the patient or personal representative.
PROCEDURE
Routine inquiries, such as patient condition requests and requests for interviews, are to be directed to the Community/Media Relations Manager or designated persons at the appropriate medical center/facility.
Non-routine matters or matters involving Broward Health issues are to be directed to the Broward Health Manager of Media Relations.
NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS
The nursing supervisor at each medical center/hospital will handle routine media calls, such as patient condition requests, at night and on weekends.
Media representative should not call the Emergency Department directly at night or on weekends. All calls from the media should be made to the nursing supervisor.
The Community/Media Relations Manager at each facility may designate a specialist or assistant within their department to take media calls during business and off-hours.
In the event there is no media relations representative available at the hospital to take calls from the media, the following occurs:
a) On-call coverage is handled by one of Broward Health’s other medical centers.
b) The Broward Health Manager of Media Relations or the Administrative Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing will assist with on-call coverage.
RESTRICTIONS ON RELEASE OF INFORMATION
If a media representative requests the condition of a patient by name, the appropriate media relations representative will confirm that the patient is in the hospital and provide a one-word statement regarding condition without the patient's authorization except in the following circumstances:
• The patient has opted out of the hospital directory;
• The patient's treatment relates to drug or alcohol treatment;
• The patient's treatment relates to HIV/AIDS;
• The patient's treatment relates to a mental health diagnosis;
• The patient's treatment relates to sexual abuse;
• The patient is a prisoner; and
• The police or doctor request that no information be released.
Under no circumstances will city/state of residence be given out in the case of law enforcement officers, paramedics, or firefighters who are admitted as patients in accordance with Florida statutes.
CONTACTING PATIENTS DIRECTLY
• It is against hospital policy for anyone from the media to directly approach a patient or patient’s family inside the medical center without prior authorization of the media relations office.
• Violation of the policy may result in the reporter or media outlet being excluded from future media events at the medical center.
MEDIA ACCESS
Media representatives may wait in the main lobby after contacting the media relations representative about their presence. News media must always be escorted while in Broward Health facilities, in coordination with the facility's Community/Media Relations department.
Due to HIPAA privacy concerns, media are not allowed to interview, photograph or film in the lobby area unless authorized and accompanied by a media relations representative.
Members of the media are not allowed in patient treatment areas of the hospital without prior authorization and appropriate escort. The emergency department, ED lobby, NICU, PICU, ICU, patient rooms, surgery, rehab, and areas where patients are located are considered treatment areas.
When a member of the news media requests an interview and/or photographs of a patient, permission may be given by the patient in coordination with the Community/Media Relations staff member or nursing supervisor(after hours).
Administration, a medical director, a physician, Security, Nursing Administration, or Community/Media Relations Manager can limit media access to areas when necessary in the best interest of patient care.
In accordance with Florida law, interviews may not be recorded, by anyone, without prior knowledge and agreement of all parties being taped. Agreement of taping should be recorded at the beginning of the tape being utilized.
PARKING AND STAGING AREAS
Media parking and staging areas are clearly identified and marked at each medical center. Maps for these areas may be found on the Broward Health web site at www.BrowardHealth.org in the News Desk section under “About Us.”
PHOTOGRAPHS AND/OR INTERVIEWS
In order for a patient to be photographed or interviewed for media relations purposes, he/she must sign an authorization form.
No photography or filming is allowed inside the hospital, including the Emergency Department, unless prior permission is obtained from the Community/Media Relations Manager.
A patient or personal representative may directly authorize interviews and/or photographs by the news media. However, the Broward Health policy requires notification of the Community/Media Relations staff or appointed representative, and a signed authorization from the patient prior to the interview or photographs. In some cases, the patient's physician may deem such media attention inappropriate and in conflict with the patient's recovery.
PATIENT CONDITION REPORTS
A. Provided that the patient has not opted out of the facility directory the hospital representative can release: (1) the patient’s general location in the facility, (2) a one word statement of the patient’s condition, and (3) the patient’s religious affiliation. However, if the patient has opted out of the facility directory, the disclosure of any information is prohibited by law.
B. Patient conditions as determined in consultation with the physician of record may be reported as:
• GOOD: Vital signs, such as pulse, temperature, and blood pressure are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable and the outlook for recovery is good to excellent.
• FAIR: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient may have complications.
• SERIOUS: Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill.
• CRITICAL: Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is in significant danger from major complications.
• DECEASED: Under the HIPAA privacy rule, if a patient has not asked that his or her information be kept out of the hospital’s directory, the hospital may disclose a general condition to anyone who asks for the patient by name. HIPAA does not define what constitutes a “general condition.” Disclosing that a patient is deceased, appears to be a permissible disclosure as a statement of the patient’s condition. A hospital may not disclose information regarding the date, time or cause of death.
• Stable is not a condition. It is usually used when a patient is still being evaluated and indicates that the condition is steady and holding at current levels.
• Guarded is not a condition. The term guarded is frequently used but has no specific meaning in a medical context. The term should be avoided.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Information about a patient's bill is considered part of his/her designated record set as defined by HIPAA. As a result, financial information cannot be released unless the patient or personal representative provides signed authorization.
INFORMATION REGARDING MEDICAL STAFF
Information about medical staff members is confidential. Any inquiries regarding workforce members should be directed to the Media/Community Relations Manager at the appropriate medical center.
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
All requests concerning public documents, such as Board minutes, salaries, budgets, correspondence, expenses, etc., must be in writing from the inquiring party to Broward Health's President/Chief Executive Officer. For questions regarding this process please contact Broward Health’s Manager of Media Relations or the Administrative Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing.