Inquiring about a patient

In compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Community Medical Center maintains strict guidelines for releasing patient information. Patient privacy is of great importance at CMC.

As long as the patient has not requested that information be withheld, or the patient is unable to request having information withheld because of incapacity, CMC may release a one-word description of the patient’s condition.

Information about the condition and location of an inpatient, outpatient or emergency department patient may be released only if the inquiry specifically contains the patient’s name. No information is to be given if the request does not include a specific patient’s name.

Condition classifications:

• Treated and released: The patient has been treated by CMC and has been released.
• Satisfactory: The patient’s vital signs are stable and within normal limits. The patient is conscious and comfortable.
• Serious: The patient’s vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is guarded and is acutely ill.
• Critical: The patient’s vital signs are unstable or not within normal limits. The patient may be unconscious.
• Released: If a patient has been released, and CMC receives and inquiry about the patient by name, CMC will confirm the patient is no longer in the hospital.

Members of the media may have further access to information about patients including patient interviews and photography if the patient has signed a media release form. To inquire about the status of a media release form, please contact CMC’s media relations office.

Media photographers and reporters must have hospital permission before entering patient care areas. Hospital permission should be requested through the media center.

Special cases

The victims of an assault or other crimes are listed under “protective status” and their conditions will not be included in CMC’s patient directory, for the protection of the patient and others in the hospital. It is CMC’s policy not to provide any information pertaining to the patient’s condition, or even confirm they are in the hospital.

In addition, law prohibits CMC from releasing any information to the news media about psychiatric or substance abuse patients. Also, no statement may be made pertaining to whether a patient has a sexually transmitted or communicable disease, or is a victim of domestic violence or child abuse.

Death

The death of a patient must be reported to the authorities by the hospital as required by law. Typically, a report will be made after efforts have been made to notify next-of-kin. Information about the cause of death must come from the patient’s physician, and its release must be approved by a legal representative of the deceased. Before information confirming a death is released to the media or others, a written authorization from the next-of-kin or the decedent’s legal representative is advised.