For the Media

Media Relations Procedures

Welcome to the Marketing Department at Stormont-Vail HealthCare. The Communications staff are on call 24 hours a day to assist local, regional and national news media locating an expert spokesperson, obtaining information on a news item or answering questions about a news release or event.

Members of the news media must contact Marketing for information about the hospital, its staff and its patients. To contact Marketing, call (785) 354-6120 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After hours or weekends, page (785) 575-5493 for media inquiries such as stories or interviews. For patient conditions, page (785) 575-5120.

To best manage media requests, Stormont-Vail has established the following media guidelines:

• Media are not allowed on/in any of our premises without prior approval.
• Please call Marketing to arrange all interviews.
• Advance notice for on-site interviews is necessary so staff can arrange for a room for media interviews or shoots, notify the patient care areas involved and line up the appropriate patients, families and staff.
• To protect the privacy of all Stormont-Vail patients and families, a Marketing representative must accompany all reporters, film crews and photographers on the hospital campus or clinics.

Releasing Patient Conditions

The following one-word descriptions will be used by the Communications staff member on call when releasing a patient's condition. Under no circumstances is information given unless the media has the full name of the patient.

A one-word description of the patient's general condition, using the following standard definitions:

• Satisfactory: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and may be up and about. Relatively comfortable.
• Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious. Patient may be uncomfortable.
• Serious: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. May be in Critical Care Department. Seriously ill with one or more body systems effected.
• Critical: Vital signs are unstable. Patient is acutely ill. Life- threatening situation.

Logos

Click on the thumbnail below of the logo you wish to use. View and save a full high resolution file.

Approval to use any of the Stormont-Vail HealthCare logos is required. Contact Stormont-Vail Marketing Department at (785) 354-6120 to obtain approval.