Hartford HealthCare welcomes inquiries from media outlets. Someone is always available to take your calls. We ask that all journalists call us before contacting a physician, employee, patient, or volunteer at any Hartford HealthCare facility.
Release of Patient Information
HIPAA regulations strictly govern the use and release of patient health information. Only limited one-word condition updates may be released to the media.
- Patient privacy may prevent any disclosure.
- Full patient name is required for any condition report.
- Patients may deny release of all information.
- Media interviews require signed authorization.
One-word Patient Conditions
- Good
- Vital signs stable; patient conscious and comfortable.
- Fair
- Vital signs stable; patient conscious, may be uncomfortable.
- Serious
- Vital signs may be unstable; patient acutely ill.
- Critical
- Vital signs unstable; patient may be unconscious.