A patient, family, medical staff, security, nursing, hospital chaplain or law enforcement officials can verbally request that no information be released to the media. Upon such request, the patient is identified as an “A Patient”. All such requests for A Patient status are granted.
A written notice of the request is processed by any of the above groups. The request is routed to security, the telephone operator, the police, nursing supervisor, the patient’s chart, the hospital Communications Center and Community Relations.
If the media obtains identification and requests information, the hospital will state that no information is available to be released. In cases when an investigation is continuing, Community Relations may direct the media to the authorities conducting the investigation.