News at McKee Medical Center
Phone: (970) 635-4031
The Banner Health Public Relations staff at McKee Medical Center 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 McKee Medical Center or Banner Medical Clinics 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: McKee Medical Center 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
Paul Matthews
Director
Lisa Bohlmann
Public Relations Specialist
Sara Quale
Public Relations Specialist
Weekends or Holidays
After 5 p.m. and on weekends or holidays, media should call the hospital operator at (970) 669-4640 and ask to have the on-call Public Relations staff member paged.
A staff member is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
