Linda Shelton
401-444-7299
fax: 444-7807
lshelton@lifespan.org
(Director, Media Relations)
Main Number
401-444-5327
On-Call Pager
401-793-2092 |
The Miriam Hospital
Online Newsroom
Patient Information Policy
The Miriam Hospital is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality
of our patients and their medical information. The media relations
staff provides patient conditions in accordance with the American
Hospital Association's guidelines contained in the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Procedure to Obtain a Patient's Condition
To inquire about a patient at The Miriam Hospital, journalists
may contact the media relations staff.
- Journalists must have the patient's full name.
- Our staff can only provide one-word descriptions about a patient's
general condition
- The release of any medical information beyond a one-word condition
requires written authorization by the patient or the patient's
legal representative.
- We will acknowledge the death of a patient only after next-of-kin
have been notified.
Definition of General Patient Conditions
- Undetermined:
Patient is awaiting physician and 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.
According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA), the condition "stable" is not used.
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