For Media at Banner Boswell Medical Center

Phone: (623) 832-5704
Fax: (623) 832-2950
Email

The Banner Boswell Public Relations staff is responsible for building relationships with community and media organizations to provide information about medical services and events. We recognize that media is an important communication link, but understand the need to protect patient privacy.

Media Requests for Interviews or Photographs
Members of the media interested in conducting interviews or taking photographs of staff, patients, or patients' families must request permission from the Public Relations staff. This includes visits to Banner Boswell for live stand-ups and other external shots on the campus.

Release of Patient Information
The Public Relations staff processes patient update requests from media with the utmost regard for a patient's right to confidentiality guaranteed by the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the dissemination of consistent, accurate information. Information released to the media will be to the extent permitted by federal and state laws.

Information about the condition of an inpatient, outpatient, or Emergency Department patient may be released only if the inquiry specifically contains the patient's name.

A patient's or employee's individual wishes for privacy or to participate in media coverage are foremost in this policy. A patient, or the person authorized to give consent, can opt out of providing information altogether.

For more details regarding our policy on providing patient information or other hospital related requests, please contact us.

Patient Condition Classifications

• Treated and Released
  The patient has been treated by the hospital and has been released.
• Good
  Vital signs (heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, temperature) are stable and within normal limits. The patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are good.
• Fair
  Vital signs (heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, temperature) are stable and within normal limits. The patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are good.
• Serious
  Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
• Critical
  Vital signs are unstable or not within normal limits. The patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
• Deceased
  Death has occurred. (Note: Banner Boswell may disclose a patient's death as a general condition assessment, but may not give out the date, time, or cause of death without permission.)

Public Relations Staff

• Candace Hoffmann, Director
• Lisa Guinn, Public Relations Specialist

Weekends or Holidays
After 5 p.m. and on weekends or holidays, media should call the media on call number (602) 492-4770.

A staff member is on-call 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.