Guidelines for News Media

• News media representatives must contact the public relations office before arriving on any Hendrick-owned facility and/or campus to photograph, film, tape or interview any employee, patient or visitor of Hendrick Health System. This includes parking lots.
• In accordance with our policy for patient confidentiality, a media representative who has not contacted a staff member from public relations will be asked to leave the premises.
• When visiting the hospital on media-related inquiries, a public relations staff member or representative must accompany media representatives unless otherwise arranged or approved by the public relations coordinator.

• In order to provide the best possible care for our patients, please do not call at any time directly to a patient’s room or to the nurses’ station. Media always must contact the Public Relations office for any information.
• You must have the name and correct spelling of the patient about which you are inquiring.  Although we want to be as helpful as possible, without a patient name we will not release any information. This is to protect patient confidentiality and help alleviate misidentification or misinformation given to you.
• When a media representative requests photographs of, or interviews with a patient, the permission of the hospital will be given at the discretion of the Public Relations office and if the patient or his immediate family have given their consent. When the patient is a minor, permission of parents or guardian must be obtained.