Media Guidelines

Corporate Office_jpg
Corporate Office_jpg

Baptist's PR Team

Baptist Memorial Health Care’s public relations team coordinates all news media interviews for the organization. Baptist’s PR staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist journalists with covering breaking news, news media events and coordinating news media interviews at Baptist Memorial Health Care entities. The top priority at Baptist, however, remains providing top-quality patient care. That commitment includes protecting the privacy and interests of all Baptist patients.

Submit media inquiries here: https://wkf.ms/3oJFU2D.

Accessing Patient Information

Baptist Memorial Health Care is responsible for protecting the privacy and confidentiality of its patients and patient information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 mandated regulations that govern privacy standards for health care information.

As a result of these privacy standards, all news media inquiries must contain the patient’s name before any patient information can be released. Unless the patient has requested to be removed from the hospital directory or falls into a “no publicity” category, a one-word condition report may be released to news media. Any information beyond that one-word condition, including requests to interview, film or photograph a patient, requires a written authorization from the patient, obtained by the PR department.

If a patient requests confidentiality, the staff cannot acknowledge the patient’s presence at the hospital.

Definitions of Patient Conditions

  • Undetermined: Patient 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.

Visiting a Baptist Facility

All visits by news media to any Baptist Memorial Health Care facility must receive prior clearance through the Public Relations department. A PR representative will escort all journalists, photographers, videographers or any other news media personnel while they are on a Baptist campus. The PR staff member will be present during all interviews and/or filming or photography sessions.

Interview Requests

All media inquires must be directed through the PR department, which include requests for interviews with Baptist’s patients, physicians or employees. It is necessary for all patients being interviewed to sign an authorization form. A Public Relations staff member must escort any news media representatives during campus visits and will be present during all interviews.

Submit media inquiries here: https://wkf.ms/3oJFU2D.

Photography/Filming Requests

Upon approval from the Public Relations department and once appropriate patient authorization forms have been signed, news media may photograph and videotape at Baptist facilities. However, a Baptist PR representative must be present at all times. Patients may not be photographed or videotaped in such a way as to be recognized, unless the patient, parent or another responsible party signs a Baptist news media authorization form.

Any news media use of "hidden" devices to audiotape, videotape, video-image and/or photograph inside a Baptist entity is expressly forbidden as it compromises patient privacy and confidentiality.

Disaster and Emergency Situations

Baptist’s PR department understands the news media’s need for timely and accurate information during an emergency or disaster. Therefore, PR staff will make every effort to assist journalists during an emergency or disaster by providing accurate and timely updates and coordinating interviews as appropriate.

In some cases, access to Baptist facilities may be restricted or denied depending on the crisis situation. However, the Public Relations staff will make every reasonable effort to continue providing updated information to news media representatives.