The Public Relations Department uses these terms in describing a patient’s condition:
Good: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Prognosis is good.
Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but uncomfortable or may have minor complications. Favorable prognosis.
Serious: Acutely ill with questionable prognosis. Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. A chance for improved diagnosis.
Critical: Questionable prognosis. Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. There are major complications.
Undetermined: Patient awaiting physician and assessment.
Note: The term “stable” will not be used as a condition. The term should not be used in combination with other conditions, which by definition, often indicate a patient is unstable.
Death
Information about of the death of a patient is public information and available from Lancaster General Health after the family has been notified. Lancaster General Health will not release a patient’s cause of death. Such information must come from the patient’s physician.
If death becomes the object of a coroner or medical examiner’s investigation, inquiries as to the cause and circumstances of death will be directed to the appropriate authorities.
The hospital will not release statements asserting suicide in cases of death, or attempted suicide as a reason for hospitalization of the patient. Inquiries regarding suspected suicides will be referred to the coroner’s office.
Patient Condition Requests by the Media
Patient conditions are available to the media from the Public Relations Department only when the requestor presents the patient’s first and last names. Public Relations can release a patient’s name, age, a one-word condition if determined and whether the patient has been admitted for care, treated and released or transferred to another hospital.
No information about a patient’s location within the hospital, such as the Emergency Department, Trauma Neuro Unit or Mental Health Unit, will be released.
No attempt will be made by hospital personnel to describe the event that caused the injury. This must come from the authorities investigating the event.
In cases involving the Emergency Department or patient condition requests involving an inpatient, when Community Relations staff may not be available, the supervising nurse is authorized to release information. A member of Community Relations is on call at all times and should be contacted when non-routine accident cases occur.