Contacts

Rick Pozniak, System Director of Marketing & Communications
781-979-3247, rpozniak@hallmarkhealth.org

Jesse Kawa, Communications Specialist for Public & Media Relations
781-979-3243, jkawa@hallmarkhealth.org

For media inquiries during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday), contact Jesse Kawa at 781-979-3243. After hours, please call 781-979-3000 and ask the switchboard operator to the page the Marketing & Communications staff member that is on-call.

 

To protect patient privacy and confidentiality (see HIPAA guidelines below) and to accommodate requests for interviews and information about the organization, its staff, employees and programs and services in a timely and accurate manner, Hallmark Health asks members of the media to follow these guidelines:

• All requests for patient conditions must go through the Marketing & Communications Department

• While on hospital property, all media representatives must be accompanied by a member of the Marketing & Communications Department at all times

• Anyone entering the hospital with a camera (still or video) must be accompanied by a member of the Marketing & Communications Department

• All requests for filming of any type must be made in advance by calling the Marketing & Communications Department

• All patients who agree to be interviewed, photographed or filmed on hospital property for any reason must provide written consent to the Marketing & Communications Department

• Only patients who give this consent may be interviewed, photographed or filmed.

 

HIPAA Guidelines for Releasing Information on the Condition of Patients

The implementation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets standards that all healthcare institutions follow to safeguard patient privacy and confidentiality.
In general, information about a patient may be released if it is included in the hospital's directory and if the patient has not specified that no information be released.

Specifically, Hallmark Health uses the following American Hospital Association (AHA) guidelines for release of patient information to the public and the media:

• Inquiries must identify the patient by name --Information about the patient's general condition and location of an inpatient, outpatient or emergency department patient may be released only if the inquiry specifically identifies the patient by name. No information may 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 inquiries from the press.

• Release of patient's general condition and location -- As long as the patient has not requested that information be withheld, the Marketing & Communications Department may release the patient's one-word condition and location to individuals who inquire about the patient by name, without obtaining prior patient authorization. This includes inquiries from the press.

• Patient condition information --The Marketing & Communications Department releases all official patient information to media. In keeping with the guidelines of the AHA, we provide a one-word patient condition -- undetermined, good, fair, serious or critical -- unless otherwise instructed by the patient. Patient conditions are defined in accordance with the following AHA standards:

•    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 of a Patient

The death of a patient may be reported to the authorities by the hospital, as required by law. Under HIPAA, hospitals cannot share information with the media on the specifics about sudden, violent or accidental deaths, or deaths from natural causes without the permission of the decedent's next-of-kin or other legal representative. A hospital also may not disclose information regarding the date, time or cause of death to the media.
If a Patient Is Treated and Released
If a patient has not specified that no information may be released, the hospital may disclose that a patient was treated and released. However, without patient authorization, it may not release information to the media regarding the date of release or where the patient went upon release.
In summary
The hospital may release patient condition and location information only if:

• The patient has not stated that he or she does not want information released, including information confirming his or her presence in the hospital.

• In the hospital's professional judgment, releasing such information would be in the patient's best interest.

 

Providing more than a century of care, Hallmark Health is a leading community-based, nonprofit healthcare system serving Boston's northern suburbs. Hallmark Health includes two community hospitals, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. The system also includes the Hallmark Health Medical Center in Reading, The Malden Family Health Center, Hallmark Health Cancer Center in Stoneham, Hallmark Health VNA and Hospice in Malden, Hallmark Health Medical Associates, Inc., diagnostic facilities and community health programs.

With more than 400 physicians, Hallmark Health provides high quality healthcare by offering the latest technologies and treatments, as well as meeting the changing health needs of more than 500,000 residents in the communities it serves.

To learn more download our Fact Sheet.