News at Banner Good Samaritan
Phone: (602) 839-4411
Fax: (602) 839-2472
e-mail us
The Banner Good Samaritan Public Relations staff is responsible for building relationships with community and media organizations in an effort 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.
Recent media coverage from Banner Good Samaritan includes national productions such as TLC's Maternity Ward and BirthDay on Discovery Health. Many more stories from Banner Good Samaritan are featured on Arizona television, radio and newspapers.
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 Good Samaritan Public Relations staff. This includes visits to Banner Good Samaritan for live stand-ups and other external shots on the campus.
Release of Patient Information
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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 Good Samaritan 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
Jennifer Pool
Director
Craig Fischer
Public Relations Specialist
Rebecca Armendariz
Public Relations Specialist
Weekends or Holidays
After 5 p.m. and on weekends or holidays, media should call the hospital operator at (602) 839-2000 and ask to have the on-call Public Relations staff member paged.
A staff member is on-call 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
