Public Relations

The Public Relations Department at Banner Desert Medical Center is on site at the hospital from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

After Hours, Weekends or Holidays
For assistance after hours (between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.), and on weekends, or holidays, media should call our centralized Public Relations number at (480) 788-6540. Please make sure to leave a message. A Public Relations staff member will call you back immediately. 

You also can reach the Public Relations office by e-mail.

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 Banner Estrella Public Relations staff. This includes visits to Banner Estrella for live stand-ups and other external shots on the campus.

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Looking for an expert? Our staff can help you connect with one of Banner Desert's top doctors. Contact our office at (480) 412-3230.

Banner Desert recognizes the importance of media communication, but supports the need to protect patient privacy. Our goal is to help you find the best sources for your story, on deadline.

Specifically, the Public Relations staff assists journalists by:

• Distributing news releases, advisories and PSAs via fax, mail or e-mail
• Coordinating on-camera and phone interviews with experts from Banner Desert Medical Center and/or Banner Health
• Offering b-roll and photographs to accompany stories, as available
• Arranging on-site logistics for visiting news crews
• Providing one-word condition reports on current patients
• Background information on the hospital and faculty

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.